Look around the area of Oxford and Addison Township and you’re bound to see a few farms with horses running freely.
But what about camels?
That’s right. Camels.
They’re not just an exhibit at the zoo anymore.
Addison resident Carol Riley and her husband Bob, own two Dromedary camels.
Riley says she thinks people might see her as ‘crazy,? but she loves her camels Chloe, 11, and JoJo, 5, and wouldn’t give them up for anything in the world.
Riley said she never actually planned on buying a camel. It just sort of happened on its own.
Twelve years ago, her friend mentioned how neat it would be to own a camel.
‘She loved camels, so I said I’d try to help her find one. And then I ended up with the camel,? she said laughing.
The friends traveled to a farm in Prospect, Kentucky that was home to exotic animals like peacocks and llamas. That’s when Riley fell in love.
‘We saw this adorable little baby, it was Chloe,? she said. ‘She was so cute.?
When her friend decided owning a camel wasn’t for her, Riley ended up purchasing Chloe and taking her back to her home in Clarkston.
One year later, the Riley’s moved to Metamora and added Chloe to their collection of animals.
At the time they owned two horses and snowy call ducks.
But something was missing.
After she had to put one of her horses down, Riley decided to find a companion for Chloe.
‘Horses don’t last forever,? she said. ‘So, I bought JoJo.?
When Chloe was six, the Riley’s went back down to Kentucky to pick up her little brother.
The two camels didn’t get along at first, but now Riley says they seem to be better.
Dromedary camels, which are used for racing in Arabia, have one hump, unlike the two-humped Bactrian. They average 10 feet in length and can weigh anywhere from 1,100 to 1,500 pounds.
According to the website for the Oakland Zoo in California, Dromedaries can travel between 80 and 120 miles per day with a rider and are capable of carrying 440 pounds up to 40 miles a day.
Camels can even go weeks without drinking water because their bodies conserve every bit of moisture they can.
As far as eating, Chloe and JoJo have a diet of hay, grass and the occasional roof shingle.
‘They tore our barn apart and they ate the shingles off the overhang of the roof,? she said. ‘They get bored, I guess.?
The Riley’s new home in Addison is now Chloe and JoJo’s grazing ground. They moved there last Sunday, though very reluctantly.
‘It took us, like six hours to get them into the trailer,? she said.
Although the camels may seem like lovable, petable animals, Riley said they’re not the most trustworthy.
‘They’ll come up to you and look real friendly and if you don’t have something to eat, they might want to eat you,? she said. ‘Camels are very capable of biting your limbs off.?
They’re also very stubborn, added Riley.
‘When they don’t want to do something, you’re going to have a hard time making them do it.?
Chloe and JoJo’s day basically consists of grazing and the occasional nap.
‘Sometimes they’ll look like they’re dead out here because they’ll lie on their side and they don’t move for a long time,? Riley said.
Although neighbors and passersby slow down to gaze at the large camels, Riley said they have been well received in the area.
She has no regrets for buying such exotic animals.
‘I bought them because I though it would just be an interesting animal–and they are,? she said.
Someday, Riley hopes to hop up on top of Chloe’s back and go for a ride.
‘But, I’m not ready to do that yet,? she said.
Her camels are trained to ‘cush,? or get down on all fours and unlike a horse, they walk unilaterally. Riley said ‘it’s like a boat rocking.?
Her two grandkids love the camels and she is planning on getting them to learn to ride.
As for her buying anymore camels?
‘No,? she said quickly. ‘I’m getting too old for all of this.?