What a Gorgeous Hump You Have – Camel Beauty Pageant
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The legs are long, the eyes are big, the bodies curvaceous. Contestants in this Saudi-style beauty pageant have all the features you might expect anywhere else in the world, but with one crucial difference — the competitors are camels.
Reuters reports that the Qahtani tribe of western Saudi Arabia has been welcoming entrants to its Mazayen al-Ibl competition this week, a parade of the “most beautiful camels” in the desolate desert region of Guwei’iyya.
“In Lebanon they have Miss Lebanon,” jokes Walid, moderator of the competition’s Web site. “Here we have Miss Camel.”
Camels are also big business in a country where strict Islamic laws and tribal customs would make it impossible for women to take part in their own beauty contest. (!!!)
“The importance of this competition is that it helps preserve the pure-breeds. We have more than 250 owners taking part and more than 1,500 camels. This festival is considered intellectual and economic, and considered to be a good connecting point between the people of the community.” said Sheikh Omair, one of the tribe’s leaders.
Camels who attract the right attention during this week’s show could sell for a million or more riyals. Sponsors have provided 10 million riyals ($2.7 million) for the contest, which also covers the 72 sports utility vehicles to be awarded as prizes.
“The nose should be long and droop down, that’s more beautiful,” explains Sultan al-Qahtani, one of the organizers. “The ears should stand back, and the neck should be long. The hump should be high, but slightly to the back. The camel’s body should be strong, its lips strong, with little bones, a big head, big breasts, a beard, and a moustache. These are the categories used to judge the camels.” (I know, I can hear what you’re thinking from here…)
Some females have harnesses strapped around their genitalia to thwart any efforts by the males to mount them.
Chastity belts for camels?! To think that women wore those in the dark ages … shudder!
Robots Replace Children as Camel Jockeys in UAE
Using children as young as 6 years old as ‘camel jockeys’ is a chilling concept. Children were denied their childhood and food to keep their weight down. Many were seriously injured — some even killed.
The use of children as jockeys was banned merely 2 years ago in 2005 and replaced with robots for a meager $200.
Camels & Exotics Animals — Google Earth
This is an interesting clip of camels and various exotic animals using Google Earth.
Video by MK Barth
Went to a camel farm outside Dubai a few years ago and if I had the money I would probably have adopted one.
hehehe. I love this. It has to be the strangest item I’ve read for awhile. What is the saying about putting lipstick on a pig (or a camel)?
Jackie: they are rather lovable aren’t they? It must have been an interestng experience!
Jan:
The saying is you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still very much a pig
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