取代汽車送孩子上學 迎送親朋好友 英夫婦以駱駝代步
英國南部小鎮艾德立科特的福塞特夫婦家裏養著三隻單峰駱駝和三隻雙峰駱駝,它們正是這小小一家四口的寵物。
他們用駱駝接送孩子上下學、迎送親朋好友和客人,相比汽車,駱駝似乎更適合做他們的代步工具。不過,這對夫婦每年在飼養駱駝上要消耗掉400包乾草、數千加侖的水、數不清的甜菜和麥子。
School's out: Rebecca Fossett picks up Daisy, 13, and Leo, 10, from the local school on two of their six camels
Rare pets: The Fossett family are the only people in Britain to own a herd of the animals which are normally desert dwellers
Community custom: Locals in Idlicote, Warks, have become accustomed to hearing and spotting the family out and about on the beasts
五年前購入引轟動
五年前,這六隻駱駝從遙遠的沙漠來到英國南部小鎮艾德立科特上的福塞特家,引起很大轟動。如今,小鎮上的居民們都對牠們的存在習以為常,並對福塞特一家騎在駱駝身上的畫面倍感親切。
福塞特夫婦對這些駱駝疼愛萬分。42歲的福塞特太太說:「我們都愛牠們,好像牠們是額外的家庭成員。」而福塞特家的兩個孩子則開玩笑地吃起駱駝們的醋來,說:「牠們的待遇比我們還要好。」
福塞特夫婦用這六隻「巨型寵物」來接送親戚朋友,有時還騎著牠們去接孩子放學。
他們雖有私家車,卻經常騎駱駝去商店採購或者外出辦事。福塞特太太覺得駱駝們比汽車環保多了,因為牠們靠吃麥子和青草就可以「開動」,不會對環境造成污染。
善解人意溫和有禮
談到為何鍾情於駱駝這種動物時,福塞特先生說:「我很愛駱駝,牠們與普通的動物是那麼的不同,牠們都那麼善解人意。」福塞特夫婦相信自己是英國惟一擁有一支駝隊的家庭。
福塞特先生表示,之前人們對駱駝的印象多是性情乖戾、不愛乾淨、唾液橫流。但事實情卻並非如此,牠們溫和有禮,對人們充滿愛意。當有人走過小院時,牠們會立馬跑去看看,滿足強烈的好奇心,而且牠們很喜歡外出遊玩。福塞特太太說:「駱駝們喜歡去海邊,當它們的腳趾踏在沙灘上,立刻就好像回到了家。」
維護費年花數千英鎊
維護一支駝隊不容易,需要花費大量金錢,還要足夠耐心和細心。福塞特先生說:「我不建議拿牠們當寵物,除非你有好幾英畝土地,充分瞭解牠們的需要,知道怎麼照顧好牠們。」
福塞特夫婦五年前以每匹1萬英鎊的價格買下這些駱駝,每年在飼養上要花費數千英鎊。福塞特先生說:「難以準確計算我們的花銷,因為有不少隱形支出,譬如給牠們清洗、打掃。」
花錢以外,駱駝們也能掙錢。福塞特夫婦註冊了一家出租駱駝的買賣,供他人聚會或比賽時租用。
Thirsty work: The Fossett's have a drink with their camels at The Horseshoe Inn in the nearby town of Shipton on Stour, Warwickshire
Affinity: Mr Fossett, who was raised in a circus family, has always had a long-standing connection with the towering mammals, which can grow to seven feet tall and weigh 2,000lbs
Village visitors: Despite normally being found roaming the Gobi desert or Arabian plains, these six camels - which cost £10,000 each - can today be seen on the street of Warwickshire
Hobby: Mr Fossett, 52, said: 'They are such great animals, all with their own intricate personalities'
Business brains: The family, who have turned their bizarre pets into a thriving business, regularly take friends, family and paying customers on treks across the countryside
Reaction: Mrs Fossett added: 'We go out in public with them once or twice a week - sometimes for a trek. People love seeing them'
Camel chauffeurs: Mrs Fossett runs an errand in the town while her husband holds on to the reins
Part of the family: The couple with Ruby, Sahara, Sophia, Kokoso, Kazak and Veneta
Expensive: They get through 400 bales of hay a year, thousands of gallons of water and feed them on a diet of sugar beat, barley and oats
Pricey pets: Incredibly, such is the value of the UK's only camel herd, the pair have public liability insurance totalling a staggering £5 million
Here to stay: Mr Fossett said: 'They aren't the cheapest pets that's for sure, but we wouldn't change it for a thing' |