Camel interesting facts

Dromedary Camel
Dromedary camels are large hoofed animals with cream to brown colored fur which is short and thick and protects them from the sun in the daytime and keeps them warm during cold nights. Their long legs with two toes on each of their feet foot can spread wide to stop them from sinking into the sand. They have large eyes and good sight, and their large slit-like nostrils give them a good sense of smell and can be closed during dust storms. They have two layers of long eyelashes.

The Wild Bactrian Camel Is Critically Endangered

Though most camels are domesticated, the small number of wild Bactrian camels remaining are critically endangered. Classified as a separate species from the domesticated Bactrian camel, C. ferus is found in only four areas: three in northwest China (Gashun Gobi, Taklamakan Desert, and Lake Lop Camel National Reserve adjacent to the mountain ranges of Arjin Shan) and one in Mongolia, in the Great Gobi Section A Strictly Protected Area.

There are estimated to be fewer than 1,000 wild Bactrian camels remaining, and their population is expected to decrease by as much as 80% over the next 45 to 50 years. Threats to wild Bactrian camels include subsistence hunting, predation by wolves, degradation of habitat, and competition with domestic Bactrian camels for resources. In China, the wild Bactrian camel is also threatened by the potential designation of its habitat for industrial use.

They Do the Heavy Lifting

Camels have an impressive ability to carry a heavy load, even in extreme heat. The Bactrian camel can carry up to 440 pounds in a day, while the dromedary can haul up to 220 pounds. With just a single rider, a camel can easily cover 62 miles (100 kilometers) in a day, at a pace of roughly 6-7 miles per hour.

When walking, both legs on the same side of the camel's body move at the same time, called a pace. Because the fat stored in their humps provides energy, these herbivores are able to work without requiring frequent breaks for food or water. This is why they've long been used to haul goods in caravans across deserts and other inhospitable regions.

They Can Hydrate Quickly

While camels don’t store water in their humps, these desert animals are great at conserving water. Dromedary camels use heterothermy to regulate their body temperature throughout the day. This prevents them from sweating during daily increases in temperature, conserving water. When a camel does come across water, it can fill up in a hurry, drinking as much as 26 gallons in 10 minutes.

There are three types of camels in the world: dromedary camels (or Arabian camels), Bactrian camels (or Asian camels), and wild Bactrian camels (Camelus ferus). The majority of camels are domestic. The only wild camel species, wild Bactrian camels, are only found in just a few locations in China and Mongolia.2

Dromedary camels are domestic camels with long curved necks and a single hump, while Bactrian camels have two humps. All three species of camels are tall — dromedary camels average six feet tall and Bactrian camels are around seven feet in height.

Thanks to thick pads of skin on their chest and knees, camels can comfortably sit in very hot sand.

Mother camels carry their calves up to 14 months before giving birth.

Camels are hardy animals, perfectly adapted to life in arid regions. Evolution has rewarded them with the ability to live where most other mammals are unlikely to last more than a few days. In addition, camels play an equally important role in the history of mankind than horses, and they are able to go where horses never dreamed.