BOE, FINNEGAN

Bactrian Camel

Camelus bactrianus

Life expectancy: 20 to 50 years
Habitat: Steppes of Central Asia – Desert, Grasslands

Characteristics: Herbivore, Ungulate



FUN FACTS ABOUT BACTRIAN CAMELS

  • Bactrian Camels have two humps that are filled with fat. When food and water is scarce, the camel can live off of this fat storage for up to two weeks.
  • Camel calves are born without a hump, and they can stand and run shortly after birth.
  • Camels are called Ships of the Desert because they move both legs on one side of the body forward at the same time, which results in a rocking, swaying motion… like a ship.
  • Bactrian Camels can endure a wide range of temperatures throughout the seasons - from freezing cold to blistering hot.
  • Wild Bactrian Camels are actually a genetically different species than Domestic Bactrian Camels. They are a critically endangered species, with less than 1,000 remaining in their native habitat.