The cloning of camels has been taking place for many years. It was in 2009, in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), when the first female was born through somatic cell nuclear transfer. Her name was Injaz (which means achievement in Arabic), and she was born healthy after 378 days of gestation with the same DNA as the donor animal.
This remarkable outcome changed the paradigm for camel enthusiasts. This new opportunity to preserve the genes of elite camels ensures strong performance in racing, milk production, and beauty contests.
Injaz lived a completely happy life and naturally gave birth to three offspring, confirming that cloning is viable and safe for animals. She died in 2020 during her fourth pregnancy. This fact confirms that a clone, in addition to being fully fertile, can also experience complications like any other camel.
Although it is in the Gulf countries where the greatest interest in camels and their cloning exists, this is understandable for several reasons.
Motivations for Cloning Camels
Given that the genetic makeup is 99.99% identical to the predecessor, cloning elite camels carries particular motivation and interest. Below, we explain some of the practical applications of this scientific breakthrough.
Elite Racing Camels
Camel racing is a deeply rooted tradition in Gulf countries. Furthermore, it is a multimillion-dollar industry, which increases the audience and the desire to own the best camel in the world.
Thanks to the possibility of genetically replicating a champion racing camel, creating an exact copy (including speed and endurance, among other traits) guarantees a higher chance of success and reaching top positions in competitions. This is highly valued among competitors, as the prize for the winner can exceed three million US dollars.
For this reason, replicating the lineage of champion racing camels offers an ideal opportunity to get closer to victory.
Camels for Beauty Contests
In Middle Eastern countries, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, or Kuwait, camel beauty contests are common and attract large audiences. These competitions offer a generous prize to the owner of the most beautiful and best-rated camel.
This is where cloning plays a key role, allowing wealthier clients to replace their ideal camel with a genetically identical one. This way, any champion camel that has reached a certain age or has even passed away can be replaced by its younger and more beautiful replica.
In Saudi Arabia, this practice is well-regarded among the public and participants. Quite the opposite of surgeries and botox applications, which can lead to sanctions of up to 30,000 US dollars.
Therefore, cloning camels for beauty contests prevents fraud and promotes fairness among competing camels.
Milk Production and Agri-Food Uses
In the countries mentioned above, as we’ve seen, there is a close cultural relationship with camels. In local supermarkets, it’s common to find camel milk alongside cow’s milk. It’s a widely consumed product among the local population, leading to a strong camel dairy industry.
The goal of cloning in this context would be to exponentially increase milk production. Some female camels have exceptional milk yield, so cloning these specific camels would result in a significant economic benefit. According to studies, a cloned female camel can produce up to 35 liters of milk per day. That’s seven times more than an ordinary camel, offering a much higher profitability.
Conservation and Scientific Research
As with other animals, one of the goals of cloning is to eliminate the concept of ‘endangered species’. Preserving the genetic and cultural heritage of camels has made it possible to save the wild Bactrian camel, a two-humped species that was critically endangered.
After the successful cloning of this species in 2017, the risk of extinction has diminished or disappeared, as the preservation of its genetic line in liquid nitrogen provides the opportunity to replicate it at any time.
In short, cloning camels is a widely accepted and normalized practice in Gulf countries. The replication of high-value camels has different motivations. These may be economic (camel racing or beauty contests) or focused on preserving the genetic and cultural heritage of an animal with deep roots in Arab countries.
