Two young Bactrian camels are being put through their paces by keeper Lesley Lewis.
Lesley, 39, who first worked with camels at the age of 16, said: “Charlie and Jimandi are very big animals, and we need to be able to control them properly.
“They are just two years old and I am training them to respond to hand signals, and rewarding them with a high five and their favourite treat of carrots. “When they have learned basic commands, we will introduce them to wearing head collars.” Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) are large, even-toed ungulates native to the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts of Mongolia and Xinjiang with two fat-storing humps.
CAPTIONS: Senior Keeper, Lesley Lewis, trains Charlie with high five rewards.
Trainee keeper Lesley (then Brindley) at DZG camel section in 1989.