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Bactrian camel

Let's learn

How did the camel get his hump? Well that’s easy. You see, camels are perfectly adapted to dry, arid conditions and their humps are simply fat deposits that the camel is able to draw on when no food and drink is available. Dromedary camels have one hump, whereas our Bactrian camels at Blair Drummond have two.

Another clever design feature of the camel is its broad foot pads, which provide stability in the desert sand. They also have long eyelashes and ears lined with hair to prevent sand from blowing in, and they can close their nostrils to keep the sand out in dust storms.

True, wild Bactrian camels are a Critically Endangered species but here at the park we are home to the domesticated version.

Conservation status | Not evaluated

Fact Sheet

Scientific name

Camelus bactrianus

Family

Camelidae

Order

Artiodactyla

Lifespan

40 to 50 years

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