Audio Slideshow: Camel Races in Australia

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Photojournalist Tim Bonham traveled deep in the Australian outback to profile Glenda Sutton, who started racing camels in 1998. She learned how to race in the United Arab Emirates. Tim produced this audio slideshow on Glenda and her camels:

• Australian Broadcasting Corporation story on Glenda Sutton
• More of Tim Bonham’s photos
• Drought drives camels to overrun Australian town

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MARCO WERMAN: While you chew on the answer to today’s Geo Quiz I brought The World’s web editor in, Clark Boyd. Clark I understand we’ve got a narrated slide show up at The World dot org right now that’s got some pretty incredible stuff in it. Whatcha got?

CLARK BOYD: Camels in Australia.

WERMAN: Does that have anything to do with this glut story we reported on of camels in Western Australia in the outback?

BOYD: No. Although it does deal with camels in the Outback, racing camels, photojournalist Tim Bonham went deep into the Australian Outback to profile a female camel jockey by the name of Glenda Sutton. Interesting story with Glenda. She actually started racing camels in 1998 and she went to the United Arab Emirates to train and she now races them in Australia.

WERMAN: Now my impression of camels Clark is that they’re nasty and stubborn. They spit. They often refuse to move. How do actually train and raise a camel?

BOYD: Well that’s actually what’s compelling about this slideshow is that I think a lot of us have that impression of camels and Glenda Sutton, who narrates this slideshow – I mean she’s all of five foot three right? And pictures of her next to these camels which are just huge. Is she explains just how responsive they are. Just how almost human they are. And here’s a little clip from the slideshow that we’ll play now.

GLENDA SUTTON: They explore. They have their herd just like a family of people and they are [INDISCERNIBLE]. They’re inquisitive. They’re friendly. They don’t want confrontation and it’s only when they’re pushed into a corner a lot of them will do anything. They’re not going to go giving you kisses on the face after you’ve ridden them if they’ve felt that what you’ve done is cruel.

WERMAN: Alright no kisses on the face. Clark I’ve got to see this. Where do I go?

BOYD: All you have to do is go to our homepage at The World dot org or even better you can every slideshow and video that we’ve produce delivered directly to your computer or portable device and you can check that out at The World dot org slash podcasts.

WERMAN: The World’s Clark Boyd. Thanks for stopping by.

BOYD: You’re welcome Marco.

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