Bactrian Camel
Taxonomy
■ Phylum: Chordata – chordates
■ Class: Mammalia – mammals
■ Order: Artiodactyla – even-toed ungulates
■ Family: Camelidae – camelids
■ Species: Camelus bactrianus – Bactrian Camel, or Two-humped Camel
Distribution and habitat
Bactrian camels inhabit the deserts and arid grasslands of Central Asia. Camels are famous for their ability to survive in harsh desert and steppe conditions. Domesticated camels are bred to serve as burden bearers, provide milk, and used for meat and wool production.
Adaptions
Adult female camels weigh between 500 and 700 kilograms, while males can reach up to 1,000 kilograms. When measured at the shoulder, camels can stand between 1.8 and 2.3 meters tall.
Both wild and domesticated Bactrian camels begin to grow a thick coat at the end of summer that protects them from the cold. In spring, they shed this coat, and their “unkempt” appearance often surprises visitors. To conserve water, camels sweat very little.
To protect their eyes from sandstorms, camels have two rows of long, beautiful eyelashes. Their nostrils are also protected—they can close them when necessary.
Diet
Bactrian camels are considered omnivores, as they can eat carrion and even fabrics if necessary. However, their primary diet consists of a variety of desert vegetation—dry, tough grasses and the leaves of thorny shrubs.
Camels store fat in their humps, which serves as a nutrient reserve that can replace both food and water for several weeks. Their kidneys are efficient at excreting salt, allowing them to drink saltwater when needed. A thirsty camel can drink nearly 60 liters of water in one go.
Breeding
Female camels give birth to one, occasionally two, calves every other year. The gestation period lasts between 12 and 14 months. Calves are born weighing just under 40 kilograms and are able to run within their first day. A young camel becomes independent when it is around one year old.
Camels reach full maturity when they are about five years old. Males mate with multiple females, often guarding them from rival males, but females take care of the young alone. During the breeding season, males may stop eating altogether and use up all their energy reserves to court females—producing foamy saliva, vocalizing, and covering themselves with a strong-smelling secretion which they flick with their tails.
Conservation and threats
Although they are very similar, the domesticated Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) is a different species from the wild Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus). The wild camel is a critically endangered species that requires protection, but the frequent sight of domestic camels creates the false impression that the species is abundant and safe. Fewer than 1,000 wild camels remain in the wild, while the population of domesticated Bactrian camels exceeds 1.5 million!
References:
WCPF 2025 https://www.wildcamels.com/
Zarrin M. et al. 2019. Camelids: new players in the international animal production context. – Tropical Animal Health and Production, 52(3):903-913.
Huffman B. www.ultimateungulate.com
https://www.britannica.com/animal/Bactrian-camel
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