Arthritic camel gets major upgrade to the princess suite of treatments

An elderly Arabian camel resident in Australia is proving that age is no barrier to wellness and that even the most humble creature appreciates a little day spa luxury.

In the first treatment of its kind at the Werribee Open Range Zoo, 23-year-old Saffron is receiving remedial* massages to treat her chronic* age-related arthritis*.

In a remarkable sight, Saffron independently approaches her therapist*, a soft tissue* specialist, and allows him to gently stretch the soft connective tissue on her almost two-metre-tall, 750kg body, while she is simultaneously pampered with tasty rewards.

Keeper Lauren Irving said Saffron was previously “inhibited”* by her arthritis but is now strutting around the Savannah*.

“Saffron’s health and mobility has really improved,” Ms Irving said. “Prior to the treatment, she was a little bit slow to stand up at times and the cold really affected her. But now she’s really active and can now get up and down without too much effort.”

Equine* soft tissue specialist Christian Langeder, who regularly volunteers at the zoo, said the therapy assists with ongoing or intermittent pain relief of the joints and muscles.

“When massaging, I’m looking for involuntary* spasms, inflammation of the muscles, rigidity or any dysfunction,” Mr Langeder said. “During these sessions, we were able to identify that Saffron’s condition was arthritic and not muscular related.”

Mr Langeder usually works with horses but said it was exciting to be working with a camel for the first time.

“It just blows my mind to come to a place like Werribee Open Range Zoo that uses rewards-based training, without the need for sedation or anaesthetic*. It’s just incredible,” he said.

Ms Irving said that Saffron’s health has benefited from a holistic* approach, beyond the soft tissue therapy.

“Saffron’s voluntarily allowed us to take X-rays all while standing still and (calm), and we’ve had a thermal imaging* specialist identify where her hot spots are,” Ms Irving said. “Our zoo vets also tailor Saffron’s medication to her needs each week.”

Arabian camels have one hump on their backs, whereas the Bactrian camel has two. Arabian camels are native to the Arabian Peninsula and surrounding regions, as well as several other Middle Eastern countries.

They are also found in parts of North Africa and are an introduced species in Australia’s outback.

Camels have fascinating adaptations that help them inhabit* their harsh natural desert environments. They can drink up to 150 litres of water at a time and have a third eyelid and long eyelashes to protect their eyes from sand and wind.

Visitors to the Victorian zoo can see Saffron and the three-camel herd on the Savannah bus tour that runs throughout the day and is included with entry.

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GLOSSARY

• remedial: something intended to cure or correct something that’s wrong
• chronic: something that happens over a long time, particularly disease or sickness
• arthritis: joint inflammation that can cause stiffness or pain
• therapist: someone who treats a particular type of mental or physical illness or disability
• soft connective tissue: tissue that supports, connects and surrounds other structures and organs in the body
• inhibited: prevented from doing something, stopped natural and normal routine or behaviour
• Savannah: large, flat area of land covered with grass, usually with few or no trees
• equine: related to horses
• involuntary: without conscious awareness or control, happens as an automatic reflex
• anaesthetic: substance that makes a patient unable to feel pain
• holistic: dealing with or treating the whole, considering the full picture
• thermal imaging: a process that captures pictures based on heat
• inhabit: live in their natural environment

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QUICK QUIZ

1. How tall is Saffron and how much does she weigh?
2. What type of animal does Mr Langeder usually work with?
3. How many humps does Saffron have and what type of camel is she?
4. What does Mr Langeder look for during Saffron’s massage treatments?
5. How much water can camels drink at a time and why might they need more water than other animals?

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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. What would Saffron say?
If you could interview Saffron for this Kids News story, what would you ask her? Write at least three questions that you would ask. Then, write the answers that you think she would give you.

Time: allow at least 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English

2. Extension
What is “connective soft tissue” and why is it so important for camels (and humans)? Use information in the story for clues. Then use your research skills to check your ideas and find more details. Use the information that you have found to write an information report.

Time: allow at least 45 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science

VCOP ACTIVITY
Read this!
A headline on an article – or a title on your text – should capture the attention of the audience, telling them to read this now. So choosing the perfect words for a headline or title is very important.

Create three new headlines for the events that took place in this article. Remember, what you write and how you write it will set the pace for the whole text, so make sure it matches.

Read out your headlines to a partner and discuss what the article will be about based on the headline you created. Discuss the tone and mood you set in just your few, short words. Does it do the article justice? Will it capture the audience’s attention the way you hoped? Would you want to read more?

Consider how a headline or title is similar to using short, sharp sentences throughout your text. They can be just as important as complex ones. Go through the last text you wrote and highlight any short, sharp sentences that capture the audience.