Camels have been used to transport goods across arid terrain for thousands of years.
The camel is a large mammal known for its characteristic humps on its back. True camels come in two varieties, dromedary or one hump, and Bactrian camels which have two distinct humps. Although native to Asia, there are now around 700,000 wild camels in Australia, from specimens released into the wild after being used to build railways.
The camel is valued for its meat, leather, milk, and ability to work. Known for their endurance, camels make excellent pack animals for long journeys over rough terrain. Although they can survive many days without water, the popular notion that they store water in their spines is a myth. Instead, the hump provides a reserve of fat cells that can provide additional energy on long or strenuous journeys. Their water-conserving abilities are facilitated by several physical adaptations, including the shape of their red blood cells and the ability to reabsorb sweat and retain fluids.
Native to Asia, camels are believed to have been domesticated by humans around 4,000 years ago.
Bactrian and dromedary camels are similar in size, both reaching heights of about seven feet (2.1 m) at the top of their humps and weighing between 900 and 1,400 pounds (408 and 635 kg). Depending on the season in which they become pregnant, the camel has a gestation period of 12 to 14 months, which usually results in the birth of a calf. At birth, a camel weighs approximately 66 pounds (30 kg) and will double its weight in less than a year. The average lifespan of a camel is 50 to 60 years, although cows usually stop producing calves around the age of 20.
Camels usually live between 50 and 60 years.
Camels and humans have a long history together; they are believed to have been domesticated around 2000 BC. Although they are also prized for their meat and dairy products, camels are often used as beasts of burden or work animals, and even in military action for cavalry. They have often been used for railway construction or construction projects in desolate locations where horses or oxen would be burdened by the environment.
The practice of using camels on project work has led to some interesting results. In the southwestern United States, camels were used to assist in mining and later released into the desert wilderness. Sightings of their descendants are common, though not always reliable. Camels have clearly made a new home in the Australian outback, where a huge population of wild camels subsists and thrives in the absence of large predators.
While camels survive well in domesticated situations, wild populations of some groups are declining due to habitat loss and other environmental concerns. Despite a thriving population of over a million Bactrian camels in the world, it is believed that only 1,000 remain in the wild. While the domestication of camels is an important human resource, it would indeed be a shame to let wild populations of these extremely adaptable creatures die.