Let’s look at an animal that God created to survive, and even thrive, in the brutal desert climate of Northern Africa……
This animal is known as the “ship of the desert” because it is the most important form of transportation in the desert. It is also called “a beast of burden” because this animal is used for carrying heavy cargo for long distances. Of course, we are talking about the camel.
There are two varieties of camels: the one-humped and the two-humped camels. The one-humped camel, or dromedary camel, is found in Northern Africa and the Middle East. The two-humped variety, or Bactrian camel, is native to China and Mongolia.
Camels are a marvel of God’s creative work and are uniquely created by God with the qualities needed to work and live in its harsh climate. Click here to see some pictures of these fascinating creatures.
Follow along with us as one of our students “becomes” a camel by being adorned with camel-like props.
The camel has specific physical features that allow it to deal effectively with a sandy environment.
Clear inner eyelids prevent sand from getting in their eyes. We represented this by putting on a pair of glasses.
The camel has two rows of long eyelashes to help keep sand from getting in its eyes. Stick some false eyelashes ON the glasses.
The camel can completely close its nostrils to keep sand from collecting inside this area! A clothespin on the nose seals it off.
Light colored fur reflects the sun. A light colored shirt represents the fur.
A hump stores fat that is used to metabolize or produce water. Every pound of fat yields one gallon of water. A pillow makes a good hump.
Padded feet are flat and wide; this increased surface area helps reduce the problem of the camels’ hooves sinking in the sand which could be very tiring for the camel. This is represented with pre-cut pieces of foam with adhesive.
When camels walk they move both legs on one side of their body and then the other.
Camels are herbivores. This means they eat plants. Because they live in the dessert, they have to be able to eat desert plants, which include thorny cacti. This would cause other animals a great deal of difficulty, but because the lining of the camel’s mouth is so tough, sharp thorns cannot push through the skin. Try to imagine having to eat this for your meal!!!!!
When a camel becomes annoyed, it spits a foul-smelling dark liquid at the source of the annoyance. Want to give this a try? Take a Tootsie-Roll and chew it sufficiently to create some “juice”. Have a container available into which you can spit the dark liquid!
We’re Not including a picture of the spit!!
God is indeed glorified in this unique creation!