Rent-a-camel? Animals see bump in appearance requests for the holidays | Animals
Animals This article is more than 5 years oldRent-a-camel? Animals see bump in appearance requests for the holidays
This article is more than 5 years oldThey’re popular for nativity scenes, but Peta says the displays are anything but merry for the camels
Reindeer have a famously hectic schedule at this time of year – but they aren’t the only in-demand animal: camels also face a long, though less celebrated, slog on the festive commercial circuits of America.
The animals, known for having humps, are popular for nativity recreations – although scholars are divided as to whether camels were present at the birth of Jesus – and all round hi-jinks.
Despite the busy schedule, there’s no risk of the camels getting the proverbial hump, according to animal owner Jan Marchezak, who runs Barnyard Petting Zoo and Pony Rides.
“They’re like a two-year-old who never grew up,” Marchezak said. “They love the attention.”
Marchezak, who is based in Washington county, Pennsylvania, owns nine camels. Two are fully-grown – they can weigh up to 1,500lbs – and she has seven calves. Although the camels are popular year round – Marchezak said people hire them to be petted at birthday parties – there is a significant peak around Christmas.
“We do lots and lots of churches,” Marchezak said. “We usually run out of camels before we run out of churches.”
One of Marchezak’s camels is soon to appear on The Rachel Ray Show on ABC, Marchezak said – she didn’t elaborate on why – while a number of others have also made TV appearances. More commonly one of her camels will be booked for birthday parties or school events. But camel rental is not cheap: it costs $1,000 for one hour.
The camels, were described by Marchezak as “extremely affectionate”, eschewing stereotypes that they are grumpy and prone to spitting. They enjoy their appearances, she said.
One of her camels was rented for a graduation party, while others have appeared at weddings. Marchezak also rents out donkeys and sheep.
Away from Advent, the camels gambol around her farm, taking in the fresh air. And although traditionally thriving in arid conditions, she said: “They love water.”
“They not only love drinking it but you can’t run a hose whenever you have baby camels running around the yard because they stand in front of you and you have to hose them down first.”
Marchezak said the camels also “talk”. She demonstrated a guttural moan in imitation.
Charis Matey runs Peaceable Kingdom Petting Zoo, which has three camels: Einstein, Dingaling and Percy. They are “very sweet-natured”, Matey said, and are also hot property. They also appear at nativities, and have a booking for Three Kings Day – aka the epiphany – on 6 January.
“The animals enjoy doing this. They’re not really working hard,” Matey said. “I am. They’re just getting petted all day.”
Away from holiday time, people hire the camels to attend “meet and greets”, Matey said. Einstein recently had a brush with fame when an image of him walking down a Pennsylvania street in a snowstorm went viral, and since then has been booked by three car dealerships. For a fee, Einstein will stand at the dealership and apparently draw in potential buyers.
But while Marchezak and Matey said the camels work happily, the animal rights organization Peta told the Guardian that camels should not be forced to appear in nativity plays.
“Live Nativity displays are anything but merry for the animals,” Peta said.
“Unpredictable, easily stressed 1,500-pound camels especially pose a danger to the public.
“Cruelty and neglect are inevitable when sensitive exotic animals are reduced to being treated like novelty accessories, and PETA urges people to celebrate the season safely and humanely by leaving them out of their holiday events.”
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