While birding along a sandy beach on the coast of Gujarat, India we noticed a lone camel in the sand dunes. After an hour or so of birding we again noticed the same camel on our walk back. This time we investigated and discovered she was giving birth. But mom and partially born baby seemed to be having trouble and the exposed part of the baby was covered in sand from mom thrashing about. My husband and I gently approached the camel and she readily accepted our presence. It looked like the baby's shoulders may have been stuck or there was a lack of birth secretions for a smooth exit. Both critters seemed exhausted. We gently examined the baby and the mom and decided to gently pull the baby out. (We are both very familiar with large animals and I have assisted in the birth of other animals). We must have done the right thing at exactly the right time as the baby popped out within minutes! We were hughly surprised at how big a newborn camel is! Probably 90 lbs with long legs! We removed the very dirty birth membrane from the baby and was very glad to see it breathing. We backed off and let mom and baby get to know each other. We watched for 10 minutes and baby was starting to find those long legs and inch towards mother's milk. We left them with a prayer for a good camel life.
Photo courtesy of Vaibhav of CEDO in Gujarat, India.
Nancy, That is an amazing story and it brought a tear of joy to my eyes. You are an amazing woman. That must be one of the highlights in life to witness but to assist makes it so much more special.
Brings back memories of pulling calves and pigs on the farm when I was growing up, and making sure the membrane was off the baby's nose and it started breathing on its own after birth. In the winter, we'd make sure the baby pigs were under the heat lamp so they wouldn't freeze (probably not a risk to the newborn camel in the sand dunes of India ;)).
Midwife to a Camel
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