Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Photojournalist + Visual Storyteller

vidhyaa.visura.co

The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

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Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Nationality: Indian

Biography: Vidhyaa is a photojournalist and National Geographic Explorer based in Abu Dhabi. She focuses her documentary work in the UAE on gender, cultural, social, and environmental challenges and issues. As a visual storyteller, she aspires to tell... MORE

Camel dulla (dulaa or gulaa) is...throughout the rutting season.

1 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Camel dulla (dulaa or gulaa) is an inflated pink sac that hangs from the side of a male dromedary camel's mouth.

Camel's dulla has a dual purpose: it asserts male supremacy and attracts female camels. It is a kind of sexual activity that males exhibit throughout the rutting season.

The centre camel cloning resear... for better reproduction rates.

2 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

The centre camel cloning research has expanded to include endangered species, such as the two-humped wild Bactrian camel. Camels hold cultural and spiritual significance, but cloning is expensive, so embryo transfer is often preferred for better reproduction rates.

Long term storage of cells in l...ent desert-dwelling creatures.

3 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Long term storage of cells in liquid nitrogen at -196 degree centigrade

Preserving Centuries of Camel Heritage
The Camel Cryobank employs state-of-the-art cryogenic preservation technology to store camel genetic material, including cells, tissues, and embryos, at sub-zero temperatures. This initiative is a testament to the UAE's commitment to preserving the centuries-old heritage of these resilient desert-dwelling creatures.

Micro-injection of donor nucleu...tted to an inverted microscope

4 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Micro-injection of donor nucleus/DNA in an enucleated oocyte

Enucleation and injection of donor nuclei using a micromanipulater fitted to an inverted microscope

Harnessing Genetic Diversity fo...tions and potential challenges.

5 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Harnessing Genetic Diversity for Sustainability: The Camel Cryobank in UAE aims to conserve the genetic diversity of camel populations for long-term sustainability, enhancing their adaptability to environmental conditions and potential challenges.

Media change of cultured cells

6 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Media change of cultured cells

7 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Dr. Lulu

Walking  in an automatic walker for exercise

8 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Walking in an automatic walker for exercise

Dr Wani and Camel Reproductive ...s in camel biology and genetics

9 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Dr Wani and Camel Reproductive Biotechnology Centre at the Camel Cryobank / collaborative research and innovative advancements in camel biology and genetics

Transfer of cloned embryos in t...rus of synchronized recipients

10 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Transfer of cloned embryos in the uterus of synchronized recipients

Some of the cloned camels

11 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Some of the cloned camels

The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

12 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

13 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

14 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Dromedaries are able to adapt t... changing sands of the desert.

15 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Dromedaries are able to adapt to their desert environment in other ways as well. They have closed noses and long, thick eyelashes and eyebrows to keep sand out of their eyes. Their big, strong lips make it possible for them to eat the prickly, arid plants of the desert. These creatures have large, thick footpads that enable them traverse the rocky ground and changing sands of the desert.

The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

16 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Preserving Heritage, Ensuring F...ace of environmental challenges

17 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Preserving Heritage, Ensuring Future: The Camel Cryobank conserves camel genetic material for future generations, ensuring the resilience and adaptability of camels in the face of environmental challenges

The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

18 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

19 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Camels, known as "ship...zed for racing, meat, and milk

20 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

Camels, known as "ships of the desert" and previously utilized to traverse the dunes of the Arab peninsula, represent the traditional culture of the Gulf. Now, after being supplanted as the primary form of transportation by gas-guzzling SUVs, they are utilized for racing, meat, and milk

The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

21 of 21 © 2024 Vidhyaa Chandramohan

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Thumbnail of Camel dulla (dulaa or gulaa) is _ throughout the rutting season.

Thumbnail of The centre camel cloning researc_d for better reproduction rates.

Thumbnail of Long term storage of cells in li_ient desert-dwelling creatures.

Thumbnail of Micro-injection of donor nucleus_itted to an inverted microscope

Thumbnail of Harnessing Genetic Diversity for_itions and potential challenges.

Thumbnail of Media change of cultured cells

Thumbnail of Dr. Lulu

Thumbnail of Walking  in an automatic walker for exercise

Thumbnail of Dr Wani and Camel Reproductive B_ts in camel biology and genetics

Thumbnail of Transfer of cloned embryos in th_erus of synchronized recipients

Thumbnail of Some of the cloned camels

Thumbnail of The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

Thumbnail of The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

Thumbnail of The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

Thumbnail of Dromedaries are able to adapt to_d changing sands of the desert.

Thumbnail of The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

Thumbnail of Preserving Heritage, Ensuring Fu_face of environmental challenges

Thumbnail of The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

Thumbnail of The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

Thumbnail of Camels, known as "ships_ized for racing, meat, and milk

Thumbnail of The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

Private Story

The Camel Cryobank: A Lifeline for Future Generations of Camels in UAE

Copyright Vidhyaa Chandramohan 2024

Updated Jan 2024

Location United Arab Emirates

The UAE is working hard to preserve the genetic diversity of camels and to establish itself as a leader in camel conservation and research. I have documented this project with Camel Research Center and the Reproductive Biotechnology Center. The goal is to protect the camel population and their unique heritage by storing genetic material, such as cells, tissues, and embryos, at very low temperatures. The Camel Cryobank stores semen and embryos from prize-winning racing camels and other valuable specimens. The technology used ensures that the genetic material remains viable for decades, which could potentially help revive extinct camel species in the future. The UAE's efforts to safeguard the camel population are an example for other countries to follow in preserving their own unique animal species.

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