PARIS: The camel that grateful townsfolk in Mali presented to President Francois Hollande for sending in French troops to chase away extremists has likely been eaten by the family that was supposed to be looking after it in Timbuktu.

French defense officials said they were informed of the beast’s ignominious demise during a visit to the war-torn African state last month. The camel caused Hollande some embarrassment when it was presented to him on Feb. 3 in Timbuktu, which French troops had recently freed from the grip of Al-Qaeda-linked militants. “I shall use it as much a I can as a means of transport,” he quipped.

French officials originally planned to bring the beast back to France and place it in a zoo, but it was later decided to entrust it to a local family.