Latest news with #camel
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Camel calf born at Whipsnade Zoo is squeaking at his mum
A chatty camel calf who was born at a UK zoo appears to be "strong and healthy", his keepers have Zoo in Bedfordshire said the baby boy, who is yet to be named, was born on 18 May to first-time-mum Orla and dad keeper Gracie Gee said Orla was "constantly reassuring him with murmurs and noises – and you can hear him 'talking' back with squeaks, which is very sweet".The fluffy new addition joins his half-sister Sally, who was born in April 2024, and will live with the zoo's herd of five adults. "Orla is very protective and attentive of her newborn," added Ms Gee."Despite being thought of as grumpy, camels are very nurturing and caring parents, and it's wonderful to see Orla proving to be a natural mum already."The calf seems strong and healthy – he was walking within hours of being born, and visitors will be able to see him getting used to his long, lanky legs as he races around the camels' vast paddock."Whipsnade Zoo's domestic Bactrian camels are an ambassador species for their critically endangered cousins, the wild camel in Mongolia and charity behind Whipsnade Zoo is supporting conservation efforts in Mongolia, including in the Gobi Gee said there were as few as 950 wild camels left in the deserts of Mongolia and China, with "hunting and water scarcity caused by human-activity largely to blame"."Natural predation from the grey wolf is also putting pressure on the remaining population," Ms Gee said. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The National
19-05-2025
- Health
- The National
Osteoarthritis pain could be treated with camel placenta, scientists say
Camel placenta could be the latest biomaterial used in medicine to regenerate damaged tissue, as scientists in Saudi Arabia explore how effective it may be in treating osteoarthritis. Cartilage is a critical component in healthy joints but damage caused by old age, obesity and injury can result in painful, life-limiting conditions. Most existing therapies focus on management of symptoms and pain. But scientists hope new research into the use of camel placenta extract in animals with osteoarthritis − the most common chronic joint condition in Saudi Arabia − could help regenerate damaged human tissue. Regenerative therapies using stem cells or platelet-rich plasma extracted from human fat are currently used to treat chronic patients, but this can cost up to Dh30,000 ($8,160). The process involves removing stomach fat through liposuction, spinning the material to extract stem cells, then injecting it back into the patient's damaged joint. Using, camel placenta − material discarded after birth as waste but loaded with essential amino acids − could be a more affordable alternative, scientists believe. 'Camels are highly valued in our culture here in the kingdom, and that deep interest helped spark a new idea for us,' Nouf bin Awad, a health policy specialist and pharmacist at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, who led the research at King Saud University, told The National. 'The benefits of camel milk have been researched, but the placenta was a completely different idea. It offered a great alternative to human placenta, which often comes with ethical concerns when used in medical or cosmetic products. Potentially, this is a good option for those patients who can't go for surgery, which can be a costly approach.' A recent cross-sectional study of adults over 50 in the country found between 30 and 40 per cent were affected by knee arthritis, significantly more than elsewhere. The World Health Organisation estimates that worldwide, around 10 per cent of men and 18 per cent of women over 60 have the condition. According to the kingdom's Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, there are 1.8 million camels in the country − providing plenty scope to utilise natural biowaste for research and potential medical treatments. Researchers found an injectable treatment using camel placenta reduced inflammation and swelling in rats, while promoting cartilage regeneration. It was also seen to suppress enzymes that break down joint tissue and had a similar effect on pain management as diclofenac − a commonly prescribed arthritis medication − but without the side effects of gastrointestinal problems. The treatment was presented at the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions 2025 in April, and was awarded a gold innovation award. 'At this early stage, the initial cost is low as the camel placenta is the primary component, and a natural by-product that is disposed with after the camel gives birth,' said Ms Awad. 'This gives us access to a natural rich resource that in the future we can manage and study further to develop.' Clinical trials with humans are now planned in partnership with the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia, to further develop the novel treatment as a commercially available injectable. Dr Hesham Al Khateeb, an orthopaedic surgeon at Fakeeh University Hospital in Dubai, said the research had potential for wide use. 'Placentas have a lot of growth factors and stem cells, while from an abundance perspective you've got a lot of camels in this region, so this should be explored,' he said. 'Stem cells are used a lot in arthritis, but usually we take the stem cells from the individual, then inject them. Current treatments for arthritis vary, it's an extensive field. You can start very basic with cortisone injections, which is the gold standard. But it's not a one size fits all category, as it depends on the degree of arthritis. If it's early stages, this is where this regenerative, biological treatment can be very effective.' The cartilage regeneration market is a significant growth area of medical research, and investment. Globally, the market accounted for $1.16 billion in 2023 and is forecast to be worth $5,62 billion by 2034, analysts at Fortune Business Insights predict. Rising rates of joint disorders and sporting injuries, as well as more people living longer into old age make it an area of healthcare primed for growth. 'Osteoarthritis is basically wear and tear of joint cartilage,' said Dr Amrut Borade, an orthopaedic surgeon at International Modern Hospital, Dubai. 'The most common factor is old age and other contributing factors like obesity and muscle inactivity. The first line of treatment is lifestyle modification and weight reduction.' While some patients in early stages of osteoarthritis may benefit from supplements, such as fish oils, calcium, glucosamine and chondroitin, doctors can also inject damaged areas with a cortisone steroid or hyaluronic acid to lubricate the joint. 'It's actually quite difficult to regenerate completely damaged cartilage, but we want to focus in early stages of osteoarthritis to prevent the progression and protect the cartilage,' said Dr Borade. 'Placenta treatments are clearly in experimental stages but do have some promise. There still needs a lot of research, especially when being used in the human body.' The Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia is exploring the potential solution to directly address the need for accessible, regenerative osteoarthritis therapies. 'We have these promising results and we hope to see this treatment in reality and used by the Ministry of Health and also, by the world,' said Dr Meznah Alturaiki, project and international relations manager at the innovation centre, at the Saudi Ministry of Health.
The National
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
What is the sculpture seen at Zayed International Airport during Donald Trump's arrival ceremony?
Amid the pomp and protocol of US President Donald Trump's arrival at Zayed International Airport, an artwork spotted at the presidential terminal sparked curiosity. The work, by Emirati artist Zeinab Alhashemi, comprises six sculptural forms made of steel, acrylic, stone and, the artist's signature material, camel hide. The work is titled Between Our Ancestors and Us. The installation served as the backdrop to president Trump's airport arrival. Media were positioned in between its towering forms, overlooking the area where Trump sat with President Sheikh Mohamed. Alhashemi's installation at Zayed International Airport has not been publicly revealed before, and it is believed to have been developed specifically for the presidential terminal. Between Our Ancestors and Us pays tribute to the dromedary camel and its significance in the history and culture of the UAE. Traditionally, known as ships of the desert, camels were a vital means of survival, used in transportation and trade, and as source of sustenance thanks to their meat and milk. The animal remains culturally important today, and is regarded as a symbol of resilience and Bedouin heritage. Alhashemi is known for the use of camel hide in her work, particularly with Camoulflage, a series she began in 2015. The first work in the series, which featured an abstract rendition of a desert in camel hide, was presented in the exhibition Emirati Expressions during Abu Dhabi Art. 'It brought a lot of interest and attention,' the artist told The National in 2022. 'The public wanted to get closer to the work, not knowing exactly what material it was made with. The minute they realised it was camel skin, they started asking so many different questions.' Another famous example from the series is Camoulflage: The Fourth Pillar, which was shortlisted for the 2022 Richard Mille Art Prize and exhibited at Louvre Abu Dhabi's annual Art Here. That same year Alhashemi presented Camoulflage 1.618: The Unfinished Obelisk in the desert beside the Pyramids of Giza as part of Forever is Now 2, an exhibition organised by Art d'Egypte. She also created boulder-like sculptures faceted with camel hide for Desert x AlUla 2022. Elaborating on her fascination with the material, Alhashemi said there was a similarity between camel hide and the shades of desert sand. 'If you zoom into the leather itself, you'll find it's almost like a sand dune, in terms of its curves and shades,' she said. 'My interest in nature is always bringing in its geometry from a micro level and a macro level.'
The National
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
What is the sculpture spotted at Zayed International Airport during Donald Trump's arrival ceremony?
Amid the pomp and protocol of US President Donald Trump's arrival at Zayed International Airport, an artwork spotted at the presidential terminal sparked curiosity. The work, by Emirati artist Zeinab Alhashemi, comprises six sculptural forms made of steel, acrylic, stone and, the artist's signature material, camel hide. The work is titled Between Our Ancestors and Us. The installation served as the backdrop to president Trump's airport arrival. Media were positioned in between its towering forms, overlooking the area where Trump sat with President Sheikh Mohamed. Alhashemi's installation at Zayed International Airport has not been publicly revealed before, and it is believed to have been developed specifically for the presidential terminal. Between Our Ancestors and Us pays tribute to the dromedary camel and its significance in the history and culture of the UAE. Traditionally, known as ships of the desert, camels were a vital means of survival, used in transportation and trade, and as source of sustenance thanks to their meat and milk. The animal remains culturally important today, and is regarded as a symbol of resilience and Bedouin heritage. Alhashemi is known for the use of camel hide in her work, particularly with Camoulflage, a series she began in 2015. The first work in the series, which featured an abstract rendition of a desert in camel hide, was presented in the exhibition Emirati Expressions during Abu Dhabi Art. 'It brought a lot of interest and attention,' the artist told The National in 2022. 'The public wanted to get closer to the work, not knowing exactly what material it was made with. The minute they realised it was camel skin, they started asking so many different questions.' Another famous example from the series is Camoulflage: The Fourth Pillar, which was shortlisted for the 2022 Richard Mille Art Prize and exhibited at Louvre Abu Dhabi's annual Art Here. That same year Alhashemi presented Camoulflage 1.618: The Unfinished Obelisk in the desert beside the Pyramids of Giza as part of Forever is Now 2, an exhibition organised by Art d'Egypte. She also created boulder-like sculptures faceted with camel hide for Desert x AlUla 2022. Elaborating on her fascination with the material, Alhashemi said there was a similarity between camel hide and the shades of desert sand. 'If you zoom into the leather itself, you'll find it's almost like a sand dune, in terms of its curves and shades,' she said. 'My interest in nature is always bringing in its geometry from a micro level and a macro level.'
Al Arabiya
13-05-2025
- Health
- Al Arabiya
Two MERS deaths reported in Saudi Arabia: WHO
Nine new cases of MERS, including two deaths, have been reported in Saudi Arabia, according to the World Health Organization The cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – a disease typically transmitted by camels – were reported between March 1 and April 21, 2025, according to the WHO. Among the nine cases, a cluster of seven cases were identified in Riyadh, including six health and care workers who acquired the infection from caring for a single infected patient. Of the reported cases, five were male and four were female. Of the cases, only one had indirect contact with camels. The rest of the patients had no known history of contact with camels or camel products. The cluster was identified through contact tracing and subsequent testing of all contacts, with four of the six health and care workers being asymptomatic and two showing only mild, nonspecific signs including myalgia, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. 'These cases show that the virus continues to pose a threat in countries where it is circulating in dromedary camels and spilling over into the human population,' a WHO statement read Tuesday. 'WHO recommends implementation of targeted infection prevention and control (IPC) measures to prevent the spread of health-care-associated infections of MERS-CoV and onward human transmission.' Since the first report of MERS in Saudi Arabia in 2012, a total of 2,627 laboratory-confirmed cases, with 946 associated have been reported to WHO from 27 countries, across all six WHO regions. The majority of cases (2,218; 84 percent), have been reported from Saudi Arabia. Since 2019, no human MERS-CoV infections have been reported from countries outside the Middle East. The global health body also said that it has been monitoring the epidemiological situation related to MERS-CoV and conducting risk assessments based on the latest information. As a general precaution, WHO advises anyone visiting farms, markets, barns, or other places where dromedaries are present should practice available hygiene measures, including regular hand washing after touching animals, avoiding touching eyes, nose, or mouth with hands, and avoiding contact with sick animals.
