Environmental and health studies reveal that plastic bags may be behind deaths of 50 per cent of the camels in the UAE. 

Specialists at the Ministry of Environment and Water said the researches, which were conducted on the remains of animals found in the desert region of Falaj Mualla in the UAE in 1997, showed that the residues belonged to dead camel that swallowed plastic bags and choked. 

They added that the large parts of the camel decomposed, but the plastic bags that remained trapped in the camel's stomach did not decompose. 

Khalid Al-Sa'edi, director of awareness at the ministry, said the discovery of cause of the camel's death "assures us that certain behaviours of some community individuals adversely affect the environment and lives of the creatures".

He explained that the recovered plastic bags had been retained in a glass case in cooperation with the Municipality of Falaj Muala to be a reminder that they were the reason for the elimination of the 50 per cent of camels across the country. 

Al Sa'edi noted that this prompted the Ministry of Environment and Water to launch an initiative ""UAE Free from plastic bags".