Dubai: The world’s first calf from a cloned camel has been born.

The cloned camel, named Injaz (Arabic for "achievement"), gave birth on November 2, to a healthy female calf weighing about 38kg.

The announcement was made by the Reproductive Biotechnology Centre, established under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

Injaz had conceived naturally and delivered the calf after completing the normal gestation period. This proves that cloned camels are fertile and can reproduce like other camels.

Injaz was cloned using ovarian cells of a camel and was applauded as a great scientific achievement throughout the world scientific community.

Cloning feats

According to Dr Nisar Ahmad Wani, Scientific Director of the Centre, many camels have been cloned in successive years using cells from the skin of “elite” animals.

The use of skin cells has made the process of cloning in camels easier. Bin Soughan was the world’s first camel calf cloned from skin cells of an “elite bull” in 2010.

“We have few more cloned camels pregnant and are expecting them to deliver early next year,” added Dr Wani.