Desert Camels

Camels have been domesticated for over 3,000 years, and humans continue to rely on them for transport across dry and arid regions. They can carry up to 200 pounds (90 kilograms) while traveling 20 miles (32 kilometers) a day in the desert. Camels are capable of moving as fast as horses, yet they can survive for long periods without food or water. Beyond transportation, humans have used camels for milk, meat, wool, leather, and even dung as a source of fuel.

Types of Camels

The dromedary camel, also called the Arabian camel, exists today only as a domesticated species, making up about 90 percent of the world’s camels. Bactrian camels have two humps and exist as both wild and domesticated types. Wild Bactrians are generally smaller and leaner, with less hair and smaller humps than domesticated ones.

One Hump or Two?

Remembering which camel has how many humps is simple: Dromedary (D) has one hump, Bactrian (B) has two. Contrary to popular belief, the humps store fat, not water, which provides energy when food is scarce. The size of the hump shrinks when the fat is used, causing it to droop.

Camels can survive for a week or more without water and months without food. They can lose up to 40 percent of their body weight and then drink up to 32 gallons (145 liters) in one session.

Spitting Behavior

Camels are famous for “spitting,” though it’s more like vomiting. They bring up stomach contents and saliva to project at a perceived threat. You can tell a camel is about to spit when its cheeks swell. Despite their size, camels can fall prey to predators like wolves at waterholes.

Habitat and Adaptations

Bactrian camels are native to the Gobi Desert (China) and the Bactrian steppes of Mongolia. They grow a thick, shaggy coat in winter for insulation against freezing temperatures and shed it during the hot summer. They can endure extreme temperatures from -20°F (-29°C) to 120°F (49°C).

Domesticated dromedaries are found across deserts in North Africa and the Middle East. Some feral populations exist in Australia, where camels were introduced in the 19th century.

Camels are well adapted to desert conditions. They have a thin, protective inner eyelid (nictitating membrane) to shield their eyes from sand, long double eyelashes, and nostrils that can close during sandstorms. Their broad, calloused feet spread out to aid walking on sand or snow.

Camels are active during the day, foraging for a variety of foods. Their split upper lip allows them to grasp short grasses and tough plants, even those with thorns or salt content. Occasionally, they may eat fish. Like cows, camels are ruminants and regurgitate their food to chew it again, releasing strong-smelling gases.

At the San Diego Zoo, camels are fed Bermuda and Sudan hay along with herbivore pellets.

Social Life

Camels are social animals living in herds led by a dominant male. Males removed from herds often form bachelor groups. They communicate through a range of sounds, including groans, bellows, hums, and roars. Mothers and calves hum to each other, and camels greet each other by blowing in faces. Head, ear, neck, and tail positions also convey messages: ears forward indicate alertness, while a curled tail signals submission.

Reproduction

Pregnant females separate from the herd for calving. After a 12–14 month gestation, calves are able to stand and walk within half an hour. At birth, calves have no humps, just small skin peaks topped with curly hair where the humps will grow. Mothers and young rejoin the herd after about two weeks. Calves nurse for 10–18 months, depending on camel type and food availability, reaching full size around age seven.

Conservation

Humans have relied on camels for centuries. In the 1800s, camels were even brought to the U.S. to transport goods in the West. Today, dromedaries remain essential to nomadic communities in the Sahara for milk, wool, and transport.

Bactrian camels, however, are critically endangered. Populations are declining due to hunting, competition with domestic livestock, and habitat loss from mining. Approximately 650 wild Bactrians remain in China and 450 in Mongolia. The Wild Camel Protection Foundation, founded in 1997, established a natural reserve in China to protect them.

Supporting organizations like the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance helps protect camels and wildlife worldwide.