Camel is known as the Ship of the Desert because Camel can travel great distances across the hot and dry sandy areas with no food and water for days. In the desert, no other means of transportation can exist and as a desert animal, camel serves people living in such area like carrying people and load.
A group of camels is called a “caravan.”
Somalia has the world’s largest population of camels.
Camels can go up to seven months in the desert without drinking water. They are well adapted for dehydration.
The hump(s) on their back store fat which can be converted to water and energy when sustenance is not available. Very thirsty Camels drink up to 100- 200 liters of water during a single visit to the well. The water goes into the animal digestion and circulatory system.
Though there is no evidence that camels can store water for long periods of time anywhere in their bodies, but many scientists believe Camels could store water in one of their three stomachs.
The wool of camels is used to produce many fine textiles including scarves, gloves and jackets. Camels are typically sheared once a year; a camel can produce about 20 pounds of wool each year. The wool of camels, The Mongolian people use camel hair to make their homes, called yurts, as well as cine carpets.
According to research, China produces the largest of the world supply of Camels hair. The undercoat of a camel is extremely soft and fine, making it a good choice for clothing. Camel hair provides the best insulation of all the wools so it’s usually used for coats.
Bactrian camels have two humps rather than the single hump of their Arabian relatives.
Facts about Camels
Guess what can drink 10 gallons of water in a day
- A female Camel is called a Cow. Male is called a Bull while a baby camel is called a Calf.
- The hump on the back is a lump of fat.
- Camel do not chew their food and swallow it, instead they regurgitate and chew the cud later.
- They shed their coat each year.
- Camels have two layers of thick eyelashes to protect them from dust.
- Camels have two paddy hoofs, with two toes to protect them from sinking in the sand.
- Baby Camels are born without hump.
- Camels have three chambers in the stomach.
- Camels can live for months without water but can drink between 100-200 liters of water in a day.
- The body temperature of the Camel rises during the day and cools off at night.
- Camels can close their nostrils or leave a small opening to prevent sand from entering inside.
- Camel ears are very small and hairy but their hearing power is very strong.