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BACTRIAN CAMEL
 
Bactrian camels are very well suited to life in the Gobi Desert as well as the cold climate of North Dakota. Their versatility is a product of camels' adaptations to desert life. The word "desert" actually means dry, and although desert temperatures do reach 122° F at times, they can also dip as low as -22° F.
Because of this, Bactrian camel adaptations not only work well for living with sand but also for living with snow. Their broad feet work as "snow shoes" for walking on soft surfaces, such as sand and snow. Bactrian camels have slit-like nostrils that can be closed down tightly and heavy eyelashes that protect their eyes. In addition to their eye lashes, they posses a see-through third eyelid called the nictitating membrane which protects their eyes and allows them to see during storms. In preparation for the cold winter season, Bactrian camels also grow a very thick winter coat. This wooly coat is such an effective insulator that even falling snow will not melt as it hits the camel's body. Have no fear; if your camel starts to resemble a snow bank, he's still toasty warm underneath. The Bactrian camels begin to shed their coats with the onset of warmer weather in the spring. Within a couple of weeks after completing the shedding process, they begin to grow their next winter coat. Last but not least, camel humps are perhaps the ultimate adaptation. Contrary to popular belief, camels do not store water in their humps. They store fat that can be converted to energy when food and water are not readily available.
Just remember the next time you drive by the Red River Zoo, the Bactrian camels are probably warmer than you are and enjoy North Dakota's winter wonderland.
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Camelidae
Genus species: Camelus bactrianus
DESCRIPTION
Body length of 10ft, shoulder height of 6 to 7ft.
Weighs 1320 to 2000lbs.
Long, woolly coat that varies from dark brown to sandy beige
Two humps on their backs, which are composed of fat used to supply energy in times of need
Wild Bactrian camels are much smaller than their domestic cousins.
ADAPTATIONS
Camels have several adaptations for surviving harsh conditions in the desert:
Sealable nostrils
Broad feet for walking on soft sand
HABITAT
Found in the desert and steppes (dry, grass covered land) of the Gobi desert in China and Mongolia
DIET
Leaves, grasses and shrubs
BEHAVIOR
Ability to go without water for months at a time
Move with a swinging stride-the front and hind legs on each side of the body move in unison
Run at speeds up to 40 miles per hour
Extremely good sense of smell and keen vision
REPRODUCTION
Live in small groups of 6 to 30 females and young, led by an adult male
Gestation period is 12 to 14 months.
Give birth to a single calf in March or April
Young are weaned at 1-2 years.
Females are sexually mature at 3 to 4 years, males around 5 to 6 years.
Lifespan of 40 years
CONSERVATION
While domesticated camels number over 2 million, the wild Bactrian camel is critically endangered with fewer than 1,000 surviving in the Gobi Desert.
HISTORY
Domesticated at least 4,500 years ago in Bactria near what is presently Turkmenistan and northern Iran. From Bactria, their use as draft and pack animals spread into China, where they formed the main source of transportation on the Silk Road.
Able to carry 375 to 600 lbs at a rate of 29 miles per day.
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