Joy and Tears at Terra Natura

the camels with only one hump

The joy at the recent birth of a baby dromedary at Benidorm's Terra Natura theme park was tinged with sadness when the mother died soon afterwards. Complications set in during the birth and the vets on hand could do nothing to save the mother.

The new baby dromedary – they're the camels with only one hump – is now being looked after by park staff and is being fed on a nourishing diet which is as close to mother's milk as possible.

As with most baby animals, it has an extremely high cuteness quota and has been described by one of his carers as 'a metre high cuddly toy.' The new ship of the desert will be fluttering his big eyelashes at all and sundry who visit the park as soon as he's big enough to venture out.

30 December 2008 Stephen White.