Throughout India, Pakistan and the Middle East you will find camels. These domesticated even-toe ungulates are not only hard workers, but they also provide milk and meat. These animals are celebrated in a variety of festivals including the world famous Bikaner Camel Festival in Rajasthan, India and camel beauty pageants in Abu Dhabi and the Cholistan Desert in Pakistan.

According to photographer Osakabe Yasuo, this incredible camel hair artwork can up to three years to create. For the first two years, the hair is grown, trimmed and prepped. For competitions, the hair is then trimmed into intricate patterns and dyed for the dramatic effect you see below.

Please enjoy this gallery of incredible camel art. Big thanks to Osakabe and the other photographers for documenting this fascinating tradition with such wonderful photos.