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Rehovot born Israeli brings the Holy Land home with a US Camel Farm
"Take a stroll onto Gil Riegler and Nancy Kobert’s Ramona 34-acre property. From the animals inhabiting the couple’s farm, the scene could double for Rehovot, Israel.
Riegler is a veteran of the Israeli military who specialized in traveling with the Bedouin during his tour of duty. Riding camels throughout the barren Israeli desert proved the most reliable form of transportation in the fight against smugglers and terrorists in the desert.
That is why, on the Ramona landscape, 14 awkwardly built four-legged creatures of Biblical lore find themselves enjoying the Southern California scenery. Riegler and Kobert offer monthly tours of their camel farm to expose visitors to a lesser-known aspect of the beast’s relationship with humans and the power to bring that God-given gift home.
“The Bedouin say that the camel’s milk is medicinal,” Riegler said. Learning these creatures also sustained life nutritionally for the ancient people of Israel only enhanced their role in Judaic culture for him. Oasis Camel Dairy is the only of its kind in the nation and also utilizes the creatures’ milk to create scented soaps.
Besides the grandeur and grace of these creatures, Riegler inherited an appreciation for how the resourceful Israeli Bedouin use of camel’s milk for various functions was also delicious. There is also an additional benefit, according to the native tribe. “They also say that it is an aphrodisiac,” he said, cracking a smile.
Although he grew up in the seclusion of Rehovot and camels often appeared in the area, Riegler’s time with the Israeli military was what put him on the camel’s back. “There were some Bedouin tents near the city I grew up in, but I didn’t have much to do with them,” he remembered.
During his Israeli military service, the majesty of camels simply overtook him and the idea of Oasis Camel Dairy took root.
“I found out that there was a base in the desert that worked at catching smugglers entering Israel from Egypt on camelback. The fear was that terrorists were using this route to bring ammunition into the country. I eventually was able to make it to this base and during the next year and put myself in charge of caring for the camels that were confiscated. I didn’t know anything about camels but I just adored them.”
Riegler landed in the United States after a quick visit to his Great White North country of birth, and then arrived in Northern California for a clandestine meeting.
“After the Army I decided to visit home in Canada but the cold winter got to me,” he said. “I hitchhiked down to California and settled in Santa Cruz.”
Nancy Kobert, a graduate of exotic animal college Moore Park, was employed by San Diego’s Wild Animal Park before launching her own traveling bird show. “I used to go to her by yearly performance in San Jose,” Riegler said. “I always got there early so I would get the best seat. One time at the end of the show, Nancy announced that she would need to hire some one to help her at the San Jose County Fair. I took the job and we have been together since then.”
It was years later, while working with Dragon Slayers, that fate forced Riegler’s hand. “I was volunteering at a facility for the physically handicapped that used exotic animals in the program. One day I arrived and there was a camel on the grounds,” he said. “I looked her in the eye and I just got this feeling that I should be working with camels for the rest of my life.”
Kobert’s expertise may be avian, BUT her calling was purely camel. “Nancy is the reason that we were able to bring the bull back to our facility last week,” Riegler said. With newborns arriving in February, the male was ready for his paternal return only there was a logistical problem. Riegler uses it to warmly illustrate his wife’s integral role in the founding and running of their Ramona Oasis.
“Nancy actually figured out a harness that allowed us to get him into the trailer. She is a big part of the dairy.
“When Nancy and I decided we needed to find a ranch for camels, we looked at some places. None of them seemed right,” he said.
“Our real estate agent told us of this ranch and said that it would be available some time in the future. Once we saw the ranch – just from the road – we fell in love with it and were willing to wait. Six months later (she) called. We paid full price and signed the papers on that day.”
The Ramona land recalls his Israeli heritage. “Sometimes there are no real reasons why we chose this property. It just was the right place and still is,” Riegler said. “But come to think about it, Southern California looks like Israel. I guess it makes me feel like I am home.”
Through their tours, they do more than entertain visitors through commands the camels effortlessly execute. The venue provides an opportunity to dispel misconceptions people may have about the animals.
“I would say the spitting thing,” Riegler said is the largest fear he dispells.
“It takes a lot to get a camel to spit. You really have to work to make it angry for a long time before it will demean itself with spittle.”
Above all else, Riegler’s appreciation goes beyond the camel’s milk and its potential. The passion for the majesty of the animal arises from its intellect. A recent purchase proves his point.
“We just picked up a new camel that has had no training. He is a six-year-old bull camel. This morning I looked and found he somehow picked the gate by putting his head through it and lifting with his neck,” he said.
“I fixed the gate and put him back in his pen. He took one turn around the pen, walked over calmly to the gate put his head through it and tried to lift it. Now, that is an intelligent animal.”
Source: Joel D. Amos. The man who milks camels. San Diego Jewish Journal (6 March 2008) [FullText]
Riegler is a veteran of the Israeli military who specialized in traveling with the Bedouin during his tour of duty. Riding camels throughout the barren Israeli desert proved the most reliable form of transportation in the fight against smugglers and terrorists in the desert.
That is why, on the Ramona landscape, 14 awkwardly built four-legged creatures of Biblical lore find themselves enjoying the Southern California scenery. Riegler and Kobert offer monthly tours of their camel farm to expose visitors to a lesser-known aspect of the beast’s relationship with humans and the power to bring that God-given gift home.
“The Bedouin say that the camel’s milk is medicinal,” Riegler said. Learning these creatures also sustained life nutritionally for the ancient people of Israel only enhanced their role in Judaic culture for him. Oasis Camel Dairy is the only of its kind in the nation and also utilizes the creatures’ milk to create scented soaps.
Besides the grandeur and grace of these creatures, Riegler inherited an appreciation for how the resourceful Israeli Bedouin use of camel’s milk for various functions was also delicious. There is also an additional benefit, according to the native tribe. “They also say that it is an aphrodisiac,” he said, cracking a smile.
Although he grew up in the seclusion of Rehovot and camels often appeared in the area, Riegler’s time with the Israeli military was what put him on the camel’s back. “There were some Bedouin tents near the city I grew up in, but I didn’t have much to do with them,” he remembered.
During his Israeli military service, the majesty of camels simply overtook him and the idea of Oasis Camel Dairy took root.
“I found out that there was a base in the desert that worked at catching smugglers entering Israel from Egypt on camelback. The fear was that terrorists were using this route to bring ammunition into the country. I eventually was able to make it to this base and during the next year and put myself in charge of caring for the camels that were confiscated. I didn’t know anything about camels but I just adored them.”
Riegler landed in the United States after a quick visit to his Great White North country of birth, and then arrived in Northern California for a clandestine meeting.
“After the Army I decided to visit home in Canada but the cold winter got to me,” he said. “I hitchhiked down to California and settled in Santa Cruz.”
Nancy Kobert, a graduate of exotic animal college Moore Park, was employed by San Diego’s Wild Animal Park before launching her own traveling bird show. “I used to go to her by yearly performance in San Jose,” Riegler said. “I always got there early so I would get the best seat. One time at the end of the show, Nancy announced that she would need to hire some one to help her at the San Jose County Fair. I took the job and we have been together since then.”
It was years later, while working with Dragon Slayers, that fate forced Riegler’s hand. “I was volunteering at a facility for the physically handicapped that used exotic animals in the program. One day I arrived and there was a camel on the grounds,” he said. “I looked her in the eye and I just got this feeling that I should be working with camels for the rest of my life.”
Kobert’s expertise may be avian, BUT her calling was purely camel. “Nancy is the reason that we were able to bring the bull back to our facility last week,” Riegler said. With newborns arriving in February, the male was ready for his paternal return only there was a logistical problem. Riegler uses it to warmly illustrate his wife’s integral role in the founding and running of their Ramona Oasis.
“Nancy actually figured out a harness that allowed us to get him into the trailer. She is a big part of the dairy.
“When Nancy and I decided we needed to find a ranch for camels, we looked at some places. None of them seemed right,” he said.
“Our real estate agent told us of this ranch and said that it would be available some time in the future. Once we saw the ranch – just from the road – we fell in love with it and were willing to wait. Six months later (she) called. We paid full price and signed the papers on that day.”
The Ramona land recalls his Israeli heritage. “Sometimes there are no real reasons why we chose this property. It just was the right place and still is,” Riegler said. “But come to think about it, Southern California looks like Israel. I guess it makes me feel like I am home.”
Through their tours, they do more than entertain visitors through commands the camels effortlessly execute. The venue provides an opportunity to dispel misconceptions people may have about the animals.
“I would say the spitting thing,” Riegler said is the largest fear he dispells.
“It takes a lot to get a camel to spit. You really have to work to make it angry for a long time before it will demean itself with spittle.”
Above all else, Riegler’s appreciation goes beyond the camel’s milk and its potential. The passion for the majesty of the animal arises from its intellect. A recent purchase proves his point.
“We just picked up a new camel that has had no training. He is a six-year-old bull camel. This morning I looked and found he somehow picked the gate by putting his head through it and lifting with his neck,” he said.
“I fixed the gate and put him back in his pen. He took one turn around the pen, walked over calmly to the gate put his head through it and tried to lift it. Now, that is an intelligent animal.”
Source: Joel D. Amos. The man who milks camels. San Diego Jewish Journal (6 March 2008) [FullText]
Labels: Rehovot natives
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