(not my pun)
This was another Wild Life Drawing session (they came up with the brilliant title for this Christmas special) all the way from Western Australia, hearing about the work of Animal Aid Abroad from founder, Janet Thomas, while we drew her 2 rescued camels; Banjo and Clancy were babies from a dairy operation where naturally the males are surplus, and they live with her other rescued animals at her farm.
Animal Aid Abroad provide vital support for working horses, donkeys, mules, oxen and camels worldwide, providing equipment and food, veterinary help, educational input on how best to care for the animals, and will also rescue when necessary. It’s always difficult to hear these harrowing stories but of course many of these situations are brought about by poverty and lack of resources rather than cruelty, and seeing how the work of Animal Aid Abroad is appreciated by the recipients is heartwarming and positive.
I have never really looked at a camel before (I keep doing a double-take as my French daughter-in-law, Camille, is known to us as Camel) but their adaptations to desert life are astonishing. One thing I found fascinating was their brisket, a bony protrusion from their sternum between their front legs so that when they sit down, their chest doesn’t touch the hot ground, and it provides ventilation for their belly. Camels have 3 stomachs and chew the cud like other ruminants to extract maximum nutrition from poor grasses. They are intelligent and affectionate, and form emotional bonds to their human owners similar to that with a dog or horse. They love cuddles and scratches, and are gentle in spite of their size.
I drew with my Ellington Pen filled with gorgeous Rouge Opéra ink, in my trusty Leuchtturm sketchbook:
Psst! – it’s getting to the last posting day for birdwatching logbooks and birdwatching logbook sets…
