‘We learned camels can run 40 mph’: Videos show Bonner Springs runaway camel

It’s not unusual for a stray animal to get loose on the streets of Bonner Springs, said Sgt. Heather Pate, a public information officer for the police department.

“Usually the most unusual is cattle and horses — a camel is a little bit on the different side,” Pate said.

For more than five hours Sunday, a camel roamed free as it traveled from the north end of Bonner Springs to the south end.

Police got the first hint that they had a fugitive on the run when a caller reported about 8:20 a.m. that there was a camel roaming the Sunflower Hills Golf Course.

Mathew Poe posted a video of the camel to his Facebook page. He later commented on Bonner Springs Police Department’s Facebook page that it was the start of the adventure.

“It ran into the woods from there after officers tried to catch it on golf carts,” Pate said. “Then it went south along K-7 (highway). “

The camel then went right through the intersection of K-7 and Kansas Avenue where the McDonald’s and Walmart are.

“We learned that camels can run 40 mph,” Pate said.

It then made its way down to a backyard along North Nettleton Avenue, near Morse Avenue.

“It pretty much traversed from one side of the city to the other,” Pate said. “It jaunted about the city.”

Along the way people posted video of the great escape to social media.

A couple other videos of the camel were posted as comments in Bonner Springs Police Department’s Facebook post.

Officers and Bonner Springs Animal Control employees were able to lasso the camel, bringing its grand adventure to an end about 1:30 p.m.

The camel was returned to the owner.