Over a hundred years ago, the camel was brought into the United States as a pack animal. Although camels are not very DOCILE, this quality did not DETER the owners of the animals from bringing them to the deserts of the American Southwest, which are similar to the ARID parts of the African desert. Seventy-five camels were brought to this REGION during the years 1856 and 1857. The animals found the climate to be congenial and they began to multiply. However, many of the people in the VICINITY did not like them, and they were NEGLECTED. Some escaped; others were sold to circuses. The last camel was seen in Arizona in 1913.