Friendicoes Camel Sanctuary Report - October 2022 to March 2023
Friendicoes is one of AAA’s partner groups who have long-benefitted from the generosity of AAA donors. Following is a report on Friendicoes’ camel sanctuary, which was made possible by an AAA grant:
Friendicoes has a large resident population of rescued equines, mainly horses, mules, and donkeys. Our Equine veterinary Mobile clinic has been running since 1984. It wasn’t till very recently in the last ten years that camels were found in Delhi city, brought here for rides and for childrens parties. Unfortunately traffic accidents became a common feature and the slow moving camel was often fatally injured. Wherever possible Friendicoes would give medical aid and treatment but very often the owner would lose his camel. Friendicoes today has four rescued resident camels at our Lifetime Care Sanctuary.
Problem statement: The situation in Rajasthan, the state from which most camels originate, worsened rapidly through several years of drought, complicated by the loss of subsidy to Raikas, ( the traditional breeders and caretakers of this State animal), the closing down due to covid of any tourism whatsoever on which many camel owners depended, and the scarcity of fodder and drinking water. Camels were set free to roam and were abandoned to their fate and as expected were struck down by the trucks and buses on highways or injured by wires and fencing, or simple starved due to lack of food and water competing with grazing sheep and goats for resources, while others were trucked to the few states that ate camel meat ( this was illegal) .
Solution: At this point Gopal, our farrier of a decade and a half, pledged a part of his family land to the succour of these injured or sick animals and he began to care for them on his family land. That was the start of this small camel sanctuary which began on a barren piece of land and with a rough and ready pond dug out with the family’ s labour and which relied on donations of water tankers by sympathetic villagers or visitors or timely rains. Friendicoes continued to provide medicines and whatever else could be spared for this fledgling sanctuary.
When however the number of rescued camels reached 43, along with scattered transiting cattle, Friendicoes appealed to Animal Aid Abroad for help and to our everlasting gratitude received generous support, both financial and emotional, giving a very motivating boost to our commitment to help the camels here.
Grant received from AAA : Animal Aid Abroad’s grant covered the construction of a simple shed, a stone perimeter boundary to keep camels from straying that need to be in for treatment or rest, two very long water troughs and some food mangers, as well as the cost of one man to manage the camels, medicines and some feed. It also covered the cost of a second hand motorcycle. We also received funding for some feed and medicines.
Progress report: Work was begun by assembling the required red sandstone which had to be carried in manually, and the stone was broken and fixed with a lot of physical labour. Hence the work took longer than expected.
Work begins: The first construction was of the shed to allow shelter from the weather vagaries and sandstorms. Its made of stone columns with a tin roof at sufficient height. The water troughs and food mangers were made next.
Then the boundary wall was started, again a laborious slatting of stone in stone pillars. Note the sandy soil in the photos.
After completion of the boundary with some artistic creativity Gopal and his team designed signage carved in stone for the Camel Sanctuary.
