Perhaps nowhere else on earth is more associated with the camel than the Arabian Peninsula. Their story is not one of a free population; however, but of a domesticated animal. Throughout history, Arabian camels have served the needs of humans, and have benefited from that service as a species. Humans have in fact assured the survival of camels for thousands of years and quite literally led them to success as a species that they probably would never have had on their own. The camel has played such an important role in Arab culture that there are over 160 words for "camel" in the Arabic language.The geography and climate have combined to define an entire culture with the camel at its core. This certainly must be seen as high praise of this remarkable animal.As early as 1800 BC, trade routes from Asia and Africa crossed the Arabian Peninsula carrying spices, incense, gold, ivory, and silk on their way to Europe and the lands of the Fertile Crescent.Camels were used by the Nabateans in the first century BC, on their way from the Gulf of Aqaba to the trading capital of Petra in central Jordan.Camels were used by the Bedouin, whose warriors formed the nucleus of the Muslim armies that conquered the Byzantine and Persian Empires in the 7th century AD.War, trade, and civilization -- all riding on the back of a hump.
camels are found primarily in the Sahara Desert in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East. However the world's largest population of feral dromedary camels, are in the western outback in Australia.Between 1840 and 1907 thousand camels were imported into Australia. These camels were used for riding, draft and pack animals, and exploration. By performing these tasks camels first brought in the explorers, surveyors and road builders. Then the settlers and industry followed. And finally camels supplied critical goods to new settlements and remote mines. Their services were essential to opening up the center of the continent to development. By the 1920s there were an estimated 20,000 domesticated camels in Australia. By 1930 they had done their work, and the new railroads and motor transportation system (roads), which they helped build, replaced them. No longer needed but well suited to Australia's arid interior deserts these feral camels bred prolifically across areas of the Northwest Territory, Western Australia and South Australia, and into parts of Queensland. Today by conservative estimates there are about 500,000 feral camels in central Australia. Some estimates put the population at close to a million.Dromedary camels are found primarily in the Sahara Desert in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East. However the world's largest population of feral dromedary camels, are in the western outback in Australia.Between 1840 and 1907 thousand camels were imported into Australia. These camels were used for riding, draft and pack animals, and exploration. By performing these tasks camels first brought in the explorers, surveyors and road builders. Then the settlers and industry followed. And finally camels supplied critical goods to new settlements and remote mines. Their services were essential to opening up the center of the continent to development. By the 1920s there were an estimated 20,000 domesticated camels in Australia. By 1930 they had done their work, and the new railroads and motor transportation system (roads), which they helped build, replaced them. No longer needed but well suited to Australia's arid interior deserts these feral camels bred prolifically across areas of the Northwest Territory, Western Australia and South Australia, and into parts of Queensland. Today by conservative estimates there are about 500,000 feral camels in central Australia. Some estimates put the population at close to a milli.
Though camels are often identified with the deserts of Arabia (the dromedary) or the steppes of eastern Asia (the Bactrian), four of
the six members of the Camelidae family are found in South America. The South American llama (Lama glama), alpaca (Lama pacos), guanaco (Lama guanacoe), and vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) may be further distinguished as domesticated, i.e., llama and alpaca, or as wild animals, i.e., guanaco and vicuna. Like their Arabian and Asian counterparts, the South American camels have the ability to survive arid climates through their capacity to take water from their body tissue equivalent to 30% of their entire weight.Unlike the Bactrian and the dromedary, South American camels do not have humps; but, they do share the characteristic Camelid distinguishing trait of padded feet rather than hoofs-- to keep them from sinking into drifting sand-- as well as uniquely, oval shaped red blood cells-- to allow for the expansion of the cells without rupturing, when the Camelid drinks large amounts of water.Evidence suggests that both the llama and alpaca were bred by the native people of the Andes from the guanaco or the vicuna-- the alpaca for its light, silky, warm, hypoallergenic fleece, and the the llama for its beast of burden capability of carrying 25 to 30 per cent of its body weight.Docile in temperament, the llama was used as a pack animal by the Incas. Llamas are two to three times the size of an alpaca, and an alpaca stands about 36 inches (91 cm) at the withers (between the shoulder blades) with a weight between 100 to 175 pounds (45-80 kg). Alpaca population estimates were, in 1972, in Peru: 2,000,000, in Bolivia: 50,000; and, in 1996, in North America: less than 8,000.The market value of an alpaca, in 1997, was between $8,500 and $25,000 per animal. At one time, alpaca fibers were allowed only to be worn by Inca royalty. As precious a commodity as the alpaca have been, it is interesting to note that a large dog costs about as much to feed per day as an alpaca, and one acre provides enough space to easily raise five to ten alpacas.
The things camels do are remarkable, but the conditions under which they do them are truly amazing. Wild Bactrian camels were thought to be extinct until an expedition discovered a small population in the Gobi Desert in 1957.Human impact on their environment, hybridization, hunting, predation by desert wolves, and extermination due to competition with livestock herds have pushed wild Bactrian camel populations to the edge of extinction.Today wild Bactrian camels are endangered, some estimates, put their number at 400 to 700 animals in Mongolia and 200 in China.By comparison, there are over 2 million domestic Bactrian camels living on every continent around the world.Bactrian camels were domesticated by 2500 B.C. in Bactria, present-day northern Iran and northeast Afghanistan.Domesticated Bactrian camels had spread to parts of southern Russia by 1700-1200 B.C., and Western Siberia by the 10th century B.C. By 300 B.C., they were used in China on the original "silk route."An adult Bactrian camel stands 6-7.6 ft. high (180-230 cm) at the shoulders. From the tip of their nose to their tail is 10 ft. (300 cm), plus they're tail length of 20 in. (50 cm). An adult camel weighs 1320-2200 lbs. (600-1000 kg).The two humps of fat on a Bactrian camel weigh about 72 lbs. (32.7 kg) each and create a natural saddle for the rider. Their lifespan is between 25-45 years. During the winter, Bactrian camels have a shaggy dark brown or beige coat, which is sheds in large sheets when warmer temperatures come in the spring.A Bactrian camel can carry a load of up to 600 pounds over rough terrain at about 40 miles per day.Camels prefer to walk; however, they can run at a speed of 10-20 mph (16-32 kph).They have excellent eyesight and smell, which can make wild camels hard to approach. Although water is scarce, Bactrian camels are fairly good swimmers. Life in the Gobi Desert is a study in extremes. During winter, temperatures can drop as low as -22°F (-33°C). During summer, temperatures may reach as high as 122°F (50°C). Bactrian camels inhabit the steppes and desert plateaus of the Gobi desert in Xinjiang province China and parts of Mongolia.In the winter time camels can gather enough moisture from the plants they eat to go as much as 50 days without water. They can also eat small amounts of snow. However, in the summertime they may only go 5 days without water.To learn more about the camels amazing ability to store water click here. All camels have pads on their feet that spread out when they walk. A Bactrian camel's pads are firmer then dromedaries's pad.
AustralianCamels
Dromedary camels are found primarily in the Sahara Desert in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East. However the world's largest population of feral dromedary camels, are in the western outback in Australia.Between 1840 and 1907 thousand camels were imported into Australia. These camels were used for riding, draft and pack animals, and exploration. By performing these tasks camels first brought in the explorers, surveyors and road builders. Then the settlers and industry followed. And finally camels supplied critical goods to new settlements and remote mines. Their services were essential to opening up the center of the continent to development. By the 1920s there were an estimated 20,000 domesticated camels in Australia. By 1930 they had done their work, and the new railroads and motor transportation system (roads), which they helped build, replaced them. No longer needed but well suited to Australia's arid interior deserts these feral camels bred prolifically across areas of the Northwest Territory, Western Australia and South Australia, and into parts of Queensland. Today by conservative estimates there are about 500,000 feral camels in central Australia. Some estimates put the population at close to a million.Dromedary camels are found primarily in the Sahara Desert in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East. However the world's largest population of feral dromedary camels, are in the western outback in Australia.Between 1840 and 1907 thousand camels were imported into Australia. These camels were used for riding, draft and pack animals, and exploration. By performing these tasks camels first brought in the explorers, surveyors and road builders. Then the settlers and industry followed. And finally camels supplied critical goods to new settlements and remote mines. Their services were essential to opening up the center of the continent to development. By the 1920s there were an estimated 20,000 domesticated camels in Australia. By 1930 they had done their work, and the new railroads and motor transportation system (roads), which they helped build, replaced them. No longer needed but well suited to Australia's arid interior deserts these feral camels bred prolifically across areas of the Northwest Territory, Western Australia and South Australia, and into parts of Queensland. Today by conservative estimates there are about 500,000 feral camels in central Australia. Some estimates put the population at close to
a million.
