The term camel is broadly used to
describe any of the six camel like creatures in the family
Camelidae, the two true camels, and the four South American
camelids, the llama, alpaca, guanaco, and vicuña. The average
height of a fully grown camel is approximately 1.85m (6 ft 1
inch) at the shoulder and 2.15(7ft 1 inch) at the hump and the
average weight is between 250- 700kg. The average life
expectancy of a camel is forty to fifty years. Camels do not
store water in their hump as it is commonly believe. In fact,
the hump is a reservoir of fatty tissue. When this tissue is
metabolized, it acts as a source of energy.
Scientific Information
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Artiodactyla
Genus:
Camelus
Family:
Camelidae
Reproductive System: After a gestation period of 11 months a
female camel can give birth to one or two young ones. Newborns can walk
after 2 hours and can follow their mothers after 24 hours. At least two
years between births. Most births are in March and early April. Females
generally give birth at the age of 5 years. A camel can live for 35 - 40
years.
Uses of a Camel:
Camel is used for agricultural farming,
riding, and transport. In some countries, camel is used to get milk as
they can be feed on less and cheap food and can produce more milk. In
other countries, camel meet is eaten and its bone can be used to make
handicrafts. Camel can also be used to obtain wool and fiber.
Camel milk is known to be good for human
health and to treat certain diseases. Many products can be made (curd,
cheese, etc.), as demonstrated by NRCC research. Milk can be used to
treat diabetes, TB, Jaundice, anemia. However, camel milk is not in high
demand, mainly because of superstition
Breeds of Camels: There are basically six breeds of camel as
follows:
Wild Bactrian Camels:
AsCompared to domestic camels, wild camels have
smaller feet, smaller humps, shorter hair and a more slender body shape.
Dromedary Camels:This breed of camel is
around 9.5-11 feet high and weighs around 700-1500 pounds. Their color ranges from white, brown,
tan, red, black and spotted.
They have longer legs which helps them to run easily.
Bactrian Camels: They are Asian
camels, which come from desert of China and Mongolia . They have
two humps and legs are shorter as compare to other breeds of
camels. This is usually 6-7.5 feet high and weighs 1300-2100
pounds.
F2 Bactrian Camels: This breed is result of
cross breeding betweenBactrian and a F1 hybrid. These hybrids are
found mostly in Kazakhstan .
F1 Camels:
This breed is a result of
cross breeding of Dromedary
andBactrian Camels. They are
much heavier and therefore used for carrying loads and plowing.
F2 Dromedary Camels:The cross breeding between
a Dromedary and a F1 hybrid
results in F2 Dromedary Camels.
They are very large and stronger.
Caring of Camels:
Camels are very tuff and hearty animal, but like other animals they also
require care and maintenance. However, it is very often to find a veterinarian to
treat a camel when it gets sick.
Camels are usually feed on thorny bushes which other grazing animals
cannot eat and they can digest it very easily. If they fed on properly
they do not get many diseases
Diet of a camel: Camels find a common interest in eating
hay, twig, oats, grains and other dry fruits. Camels like to eat thorny
twigs since it is easier for them to eat it as it does not hurt its
mouth. Because of its peculiar designed mouth, the sharp thorns cannot
push through the skin. Many different camels who travel in desert
survive on eating seeds, dates, grass, and etcetera. A camel can eat up
to three to four kilograms of food. But this is not always the case,
those camels that live and travel in deserts find it hard many a times
to find adequate amount of food. So, they just survive on whatever
amount of grass or leaves or seeds they can find.
Steps to be taken for the prevention of
Camel: 1.Camel grazing areas should be identified and protected. The
Responsibility for their management should be given to camel herders.
2. There should be systematic camel health care through vaccinations.
3. There should be a ban on the slaughter of fertile and healthy female
