Fightfighters battled for four hours to free a 1,500 lb. pet camel named `Moses’ after the animal fell into a sinkhole in Clackamas, Oregon, KPTV reported Wednesday.
The camel, stuck in mud up to its shoulders, was successfully freed after heavy lifting equipment was brought to the country property, on Maplelane Road, on Portland's southeastern edge.
"It was a little bit different than your typical cat in the tree," Lieutenant Jed Wachlin, of Clackamas Fire Department said. "Nobody really believed it until we showed up."
Eventually shovels were used to dig around the animal and heavy-duty straps fitted to try to lift it out of the 6-foot deep hole.
Despite the four-hour ordeal, there were no obvious injuries to the camel, according to a local veterinarian.
Camel owner Kim Dilworth was relieved at the rescue: "... Moses is [like] our child."
The family bought Moses and his brother, Bethlehem, for live nativity displays at their home and around Oregon City, The Oregonian reported.
