Four stray camels crossing UAE road caught

Ras Al Khaimah - An Emirati resident immediately took photos of the camels and sent them to the authorities.

Four stray camels spotted in the middle of a road in Ras Al Khaimah were recently caught by the emirate's department of public works. 
An Emirati resident saw the camels crossing a road in the emirate's Daqdaqa area, so he immediately took photos and sent them to the authorities, said Ahmad Al Hammadi, director-general of the department. A team went to the site right away and moved the animals to a barn. 
Stray camels and other animals have caused a number of fatal accidents in the past, prompting authorities to ramp up awareness campaigns and deploy more patrols on the roads.
"We try all possible means to protect road users from stray animals, particularly during rainy weather and when visibility is low. We have urged animal owners to stick fluorescent retroreflective strips on their animals so that they can be easily seen from a distance and prevent accidents, but some people are careless."
How RAK keeps roads safe
The department has built fences to keep animals off the roads and set up 'traps', which are mainly placed in open areas. A number of stray animals have already been caught through these traps this year," the officer said. 
Traps are round, iron structures with one door. Once an animal gets in, the door is automatically closed. "Special vehicles are then brought to the site to move the animal to the barn of the department." 
Goats and cows that are caught are then subjected to veterinary examination. If they are found to be free from any disease and safe for human consumption, they are taken to the RAK Central Abattoir, where they are slaughtered and distributed to the charities, Al Hammadi said, 
Camels, however, are usually kept at the barn and never slaughtered, he added. 
"If the animal owner had already filed a report about his missing camel or animal, he will have to pay a fine of Dh1,000 to get it back."
Besides sightings of stray animals on roads, residents have also complained about spotting them on their properties. The public works department has put up signboards across the emirate, reminding cattle owners to look after their animals and help the authorities prevent accidents. 
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• Ras Al Khaimah