Pakistani camel relearns to walk with prosthetic leg
"I started weeping when I saw her walking with the prosthetic leg. It was a dream come true," Sheema Khan, the manager of an animal shelter in Karachi told AFP on Saturday.
Veterinarian Babar Hussain said it was the first time a large animal in Pakistan had received a prosthetic leg.
Cammie's leg was allegedly severed by a landlord in June 2024 as punishment for entering his field in search of fodder.
A video of the wounded camel that circulated on social media prompted swift government action.
According to the deputy commissioner of Sanghar, she was transported the very next day to Karachi, over 250 kilometers (155 miles) away, and has been living in a shelter there ever since.
"She was terrified when she first arrived from Sanghar. We witnessed her heart-wrenching cries. She was afraid of men," Khan told AFP.
One of the biggest challenges the caregivers faced was gaining her trust.
"I cannot put her condition into words," Khan added.
To aid her recovery, the caregivers introduced another young camel named Callie. Her presence brought comfort to the injured Cammie, who tried standing on her three legs for the first time after seeing her new companion.
"Cammie had been confined to her enclosure for almost four to five months before Callie arrived," Khan added.
After treating the wound and completing initial rehabilitation, the shelter -- Comprehensive Disaster Response Services (CDRS) Benji Project -- arranged a prosthetic leg from a US-based firm so she could walk on all fours again.
"We don't force her to walk. After attaching the prosthetic leg, we wait about 15 to 20 minutes. Then she stands up on her own and walks slowly," veterinarian Hussain told AFP.
He said that it would take another 15 to 20 days for her to fully adjust to the new limb.
The caregivers said Cammie will remain at the shelter permanently.
str-sma/jma/lb
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Beloved giraffe and unborn calf die suddenly
A Sydney Zoo giraffe and its calf have died following complications during labour. Late last Thursday night, zoo staff noticed signs of active labour in female giraffe Nzuri. In a statement, staff said as Nzuri's labour progressed 'it became apparent that the birth was not proceeding normally'. 'A dedicated team of three veterinarians and two veterinary nurses from several institutions were immediately mobilised to intervene and assist with the delivery,' the statement read. Staff discovered the calf's head and neck were poorly positioned, and despite the team's best efforts it became evident that the calf had died. Not long after, due to the stress and difficulty of the birth, Nzuri's condition 'severely deteriorated'. Faced with no viable options to save her, staff made 'the very difficult decision to humanely euthanise Nzuri to prevent her from further suffering'. Sydney Zoo said Nzuri's death had deeply affected staff who cared for her. 'This is an incredibly heartbreaking outcome for all involved,' exotic animals care manager Tim Bennett said. 'Our animal care team did everything possible to try and save both the calf and the mother, Nzuri. 'Decisions like this are never made lightly. The animal's welfare is always our primary concern.' Giraffe births are notoriously problematic due to the animal's trademark long limbs and neck, with a roughly six-foot drop to the ground immedietly following birth. Giraffes typically socialise in small groups or pairs of the same sex. Nzuri's companion was a similarly aged giraffe named Eyelean. When Nzuri arrived from Canberra's National Zoo and Aquarium in November last year, the two quickly formed a strong bond. 'When Nzuri spotted Eyelean, the bond was instant,' said Sydney Zoo zookeeper Frankie Douglass. 'Giraffes communicate through sniffing each other and rubbing noses, which is exactly what we witnessed within moments of the giraffes meeting each other. 'Nzuri and Eyelean are very similar in nature, both gentle yet outgoing.' Nzuri celebrated her sixth birthday just one month ago with keepers describing her as a 'shy' and 'lovely' giraffe. Giraffes in the wild typically live about 25 years.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Yahoo
Pakistani camel relearns to walk with prosthetic leg
Cammie, a young camel whose front leg was chopped off by a landlord in Pakistan's southern province of Sindh, left her caregivers emotional as she walked for the first time on a prosthetic leg. "I started weeping when I saw her walking with the prosthetic leg. It was a dream come true," Sheema Khan, the manager of an animal shelter in Karachi told AFP on Saturday. Veterinarian Babar Hussain said it was the first time a large animal in Pakistan had received a prosthetic leg. Cammie's leg was allegedly severed by a landlord in June 2024 as punishment for entering his field in search of fodder. A video of the wounded camel that circulated on social media prompted swift government action. According to the deputy commissioner of Sanghar, she was transported the very next day to Karachi, over 250 kilometers (155 miles) away, and has been living in a shelter there ever since. "She was terrified when she first arrived from Sanghar. We witnessed her heart-wrenching cries. She was afraid of men," Khan told AFP. One of the biggest challenges the caregivers faced was gaining her trust. "I cannot put her condition into words," Khan added. To aid her recovery, the caregivers introduced another young camel named Callie. Her presence brought comfort to the injured Cammie, who tried standing on her three legs for the first time after seeing her new companion. "Cammie had been confined to her enclosure for almost four to five months before Callie arrived," Khan added. After treating the wound and completing initial rehabilitation, the shelter -- Comprehensive Disaster Response Services (CDRS) Benji Project -- arranged a prosthetic leg from a US-based firm so she could walk on all fours again. "We don't force her to walk. After attaching the prosthetic leg, we wait about 15 to 20 minutes. Then she stands up on her own and walks slowly," veterinarian Hussain told AFP. He said that it would take another 15 to 20 days for her to fully adjust to the new limb. The caregivers said Cammie will remain at the shelter permanently. str-sma/jma/lb
CBS News
19-07-2025
- CBS News
Animal Care Centers of NYC not accepting pet surrenders due to record capacity
A record number of animals in New York City's shelter system has forced the city to stop taking in new dogs and cats. Animal Care Centers of NYC says they have more than 1,000 animals across their city shelters. "We have never had this many animals in our care before. This isn't a drill. This is a crisis," the ACC wrote in a social media post. As a result, they have suspended intake, meaning New Yorkers who want to give up their pets can no longer surrender them at an ACC shelter. "People are surrendering animals to the shelter. One out of every three animals surrendered is because of housing insecurity in New York City. And while our adoptions haven't decreased, they have been pretty flat," said Jessica Vaccaro, ACC Director of Placement. ACC is still taking in animals that require emergency medical care or pose a public safety risk. In a social media post, the ACC urged New Yorkers who are considering surrendering their pets to first ask family or friends for help, try to find a new home for your pet yourself, or try to figure out a way to keep your pet. More resources are available on the ACC's website at The ACC is asking the public for help through adoption, fostering and donations. They held a pop-up adoption event at 232 Varet St. in Bushwick, Brooklyn, on Saturday, and another is scheduled for the same location from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday. Adoption fees for large dogs and adult cats will be waived at that event. To learn more about fostering, visit For more information about adoption and donating, visit
