Anton and Farah — Our Camels

Anton is a male, born in March 2016, who came to Rescue Zoo from Givskud Zoo in 2017. He was a so-called surplus animal, meaning he could not remain in his original herd. When there are too many males, it can lead to unrest, fighting, and the risk of inbreeding. In some cases, these animals are euthanised if no new home can be found.

Anton is a large, curious, and social camel who loves contact with his dedicated keepers, training, and daily enrichment activities. Since Anton arrived, we have been searching for a female camel for him. Bactrian camels need companionship, but across Europe it has been a challenge to find a female that is not already part of a breeding programme or herd. We searched for over five years.

At the end of 2022, we succeeded. Through a collaboration with international partners, we made contact with a European zoo that had Farah, a female camel who needed a new home. Farah had previously suffered a herniated disc and could no longer remain in the herd she came from. Instead, she had been moved to a smaller enclosure with other species, but it was not a lasting solution.

We assessed that Anton and Farah could be a good match. Farah was cautious at first, and it took several hours to get her calmly out of the transport trailer. But she settled in quickly, and the two slowly began to approach each other. Farah is calm and systematic, while Anton is more spontaneous and curious. She is mostly interested in food and fixed routines, while he takes an interest in everything happening around him.

Today they live together in a large paddock with their own camel house. Farah still sets clear boundaries when Anton gets too playful, but they thrive together and make a strong pair.

At Rescue Zoo, we offer a permanent home — a lifelong and safe stay for animals like Anton and Farah.