Camel cloning in the UAE - in pictures

  • Cloned camel calves in a pen at Dubai's Reproductive Biotechnology Centre. Cloning is in high demand in the competitive world of camel beauty pageants, leaving scientists at the clinic working round the clock to produce carbon-copy beasts. Photos: AFP
    Cloned camel calves in a pen at Dubai's Reproductive Biotechnology Centre. Cloning is in high demand in the competitive world of camel beauty pageants, leaving scientists at the clinic working round the clock to produce carbon-copy beasts. Photos: AFP
  • Dr Nisar Ahmad Wani, the centre's scientific director, pictured hard at work. 'We are now producing plenty, maybe more than 10 to 20 babies every year,' he says. 'This year we have 28 pregnancies (so far). Last year we had 20.'
    Dr Nisar Ahmad Wani, the centre's scientific director, pictured hard at work. 'We are now producing plenty, maybe more than 10 to 20 babies every year,' he says. 'This year we have 28 pregnancies (so far). Last year we had 20.'
  • Female camels at the Reproductive Biotechnology Centre. Not every animal is blessed with sought-after drooping lips and a tall, elegant neck, but technology now allows wealthy clients to replace their most beautiful camel with one just like it.
    Female camels at the Reproductive Biotechnology Centre. Not every animal is blessed with sought-after drooping lips and a tall, elegant neck, but technology now allows wealthy clients to replace their most beautiful camel with one just like it.
  • 'We have so much demand for cloning camels that we are not able to keep up,' says scientific director Dr Wani.
    'We have so much demand for cloning camels that we are not able to keep up,' says scientific director Dr Wani.
  • Gulf clients will pay between 200,000 and 400,000 dirhams ($54,500-$109,000) to duplicate a dromedary.
    Gulf clients will pay between 200,000 and 400,000 dirhams ($54,500-$109,000) to duplicate a dromedary.
  • Cloned camel calves in a pen at the Reproductive Biotechnology Centre. During camel beauty pageants the animals are paraded at dusty racetracks around the region and scrutinised by judges.
    Cloned camel calves in a pen at the Reproductive Biotechnology Centre. During camel beauty pageants the animals are paraded at dusty racetracks around the region and scrutinised by judges.
  • Twelve years ago, Dubai claimed the world's first cloned camel. Injaz, a female whose name means 'achievement' in Arabic, was born on April 8, 2009, after more than five years of work by Dr Wani and others.
    Twelve years ago, Dubai claimed the world's first cloned camel. Injaz, a female whose name means 'achievement' in Arabic, was born on April 8, 2009, after more than five years of work by Dr Wani and others.