In Vieux Boucau, in the Landes, it is a turkoman, a cross between a camel and a dromedary which helps to collect waste abandoned on the beach.
The vision can surprise. And its passage attracts attention, and for good reason. Seeing a dromedary on a Landes beach is not frequent. The scene however occurs regularly on the coast of Vieux-Boucau.
A cross between a dromedary and a camel
To be precise, Dino, 7, is the result of a cross between a camel and a dromedary, a Turkoman. And if he goes to the beach, it’s to help pick up the trash. The initiative comes from the Landes association Camel ‘idées. The latter appealed to the members of Esat, the Establishment and service of help through the work of Saint Martin de Seignosse.
It is up to them to collect the waste abandoned on the beach, and load it onto the animal, an excellent carrier.
“It’s great to do that with a camel. It’s nicer than bringing back a tractor. And it’s more ecological, smiles Mickaël Quint, resident of ESAT.
The action is both ecological and educational, explains Dorian Lecorché Medico-psychological assistance ESAT. “We participate in this civic gesture by promoting flora and fauna, while being vigilant on coastal erosion”.
Old circus animal
The animal is not yet very reassured by its environment. “He remains impressed by the ocean, explains his master Franck Doens, eco-camel driver from the Camel’idée association. This is only his fourth outing on the beach. But we still manage to motivate him.”
Dino, who comes from a circus, weighs 800 kilos and can carry between 400 and 500 kilos, but is never loaded to the maximum of his capacity, specifies his master.
Already conclusive, the experience should not stop there. “Dino should very quickly, by spring, be equipped with a trailer. This will allow him to pick up up to three cubic meters of waste, always going a little further in areas that are a little less cleaned “
See the France 3 Aquitaine report
On the beach with Dino the Turkoman
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