Central Asian Endangered Species: Bactrian camel

Bactrian camel is a type of camel and is distributed in Central Asia, with Mongolia at the top. Bactrian camel has two bumps and is considered to be a different species from the dromedary camel in the Middle East. Bactrian camel is a camel that can live in the desert, and even if you do not eat it for a long time, the bumps on your back are full of fat and you can replenish energy. Bactrian camel is an endangered species, not an extinct species. The number of individuals is said to be 1000 or less, and conservation activities are required.

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Habitat

Bactrian camels inhabit Mongolia and China.

Characteristic

Bactrian camel is an animal of the genus Camelidaceae, with a body length of 2 m or more and a weight of 300-600 kg. Bactrian camel is a different species from dromedary. Bactrian camels live in semi-desert and steppe areas at altitudes of 1500-2000 m. Bactrian camels live in small herds and are very social animals. Bactrian camel is an animal that stores fat in the bumps on its back and can supply fat without eating for a long time. It is also an animal that can retain water for a long time because it hardly sweats. The bumps provide insulation in harsh direct sunlight. The body is sturdy and the limbs are short. It can withstand without drinking water for a long time and has the ability to close the nostrils freely, making it suitable for the desert. Natural enemies are wolves, lions, etc.

Ecology

Bactrian camels live on grass with a botanical diet. At the zoo, we eat green grass, hay, herbivorous pellets, sweet potatoes, and carrots. It doesn’t require much water, and when you’re very thirsty, drink more than 100 liters of water in about 10 minutes. The breeding season is around February. The gestation period is 378 to 405 days, and one animal can be born at a time. Bactrian camels are camels that can only breed once every two years. Children reach sexual maturity in the first 4-5 years of life. The life is said to be about 20 to 30 years. It can live for up to 40 years.

Endangered species

It is said that there are only about 1000 Bactrian camels in the world. Unlike the dromedary, it is a camel that is not domesticated and lives in the wild. Bactrian camels are being eaten by livestock, making it difficult to secure food and hunting for fur, and the number of individuals is decreasing year by year. Herds live mainly in the Gobi Desert, which straddles Mongolia and China. It is designated as a protected animal in China. In the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, attempts are being made to raise camels in captivity and return them to the wild. Bactrian camel is currently designated as an endangered species.

Breeding

Bactrian camels are very small in number, so they are difficult to obtain and difficult for the general public to breed. If you really want to keep it, we recommend dromedary. If you want to see Bactrian camel, please go to the zoo or go to Mongolia.