Camel is a general term for large ruminant mammals belonging to the genus Camelidae of the Artiodactyla order. They can be divided into dromedaries and Bactrian camels. Dromedaries have only one hump, while Bactrian camels have two.
Camels have long limbs, and soft and wide feet, suitable for walking on sand or snow. The word "camel" comes from Arabic and means "beautiful".
Camels are typically 7 feet tall from hump top to foot and weigh between 650-1300 pounds. They have three eyelids, two rows of eyelashes, and good eyesight and hearing. Camels typically live 40-50 years and can run at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.
Camels originated in North America about 40 million years ago. Later its distribution expanded to South America and Asia, but disappeared in its original habitat. Camels have traditionally been used as important pack animals. Although the Bactrian camel's speed is only 3 to 5 kilometers per hour, it can carry heavy loads for a long time and can travel 50 kilometers per day. The dromedary has longer legs and can maintain a speed of 13 to 16 kilometers per hour for 18 hours while riding.
During the scorching summer months, when noon temperatures soar between 37°C to 42°C, the desert floor can become a searing inferno, reaching blistering temperatures of 65°C to 75°C. In such extreme conditions, where traditional livestock like sheep and horses struggle to survive, camels thrive. Their remarkable adaptation to the intense heat of the desert ground enables them to endure and flourish.
Camel milk is precious! It can make your body rejuvenate, although this effect may be gradual, it is very powerful. Camels have provided milk to humans for thousands of years. Remarkably nutritious, camel milk boasts ten times the iron and three times the vitamin C content of regular milk. Moreover, it closely resembles human milk and is low in lactose, making it a highly sought-after dietary staple. The Middle East wants to import camels from Australia because their local camels are almost consumed by the people.
Camels exhibit remarkable resilience in enduring hunger and thirst. They can survive for up to two weeks without water and as long as a month without food. The fat stored in their humps can be metabolized into essential nutrients when food is scarce, enabling them to endure harsh conditions. This ability showcases their remarkable adaptation and tenacity, highlighting their indomitable spirit in challenging environments.
The camel has rightfully earned its moniker as the "ship of the desert." In the harsh and unforgiving terrain of the desert, human mobility is severely constrained, fraught with the constant risk of losing direction or succumbing to exhaustion. Yet, with the steadfast aid of camels, navigating vast expanses of desert transforms from daunting to manageable. These extraordinary creatures boast unparalleled strength and endurance, standing as invaluable partners to humans in their desert journeys. With their indomitable spirit and unwavering resolve, camels epitomize qualities deserving of both admiration and emulation.