Ships Of the Desert

Ships of the desert are a good way to describe camels. They're always expected to carry a big load across the desert. Dromedary camels carry over two hundred kilograms on their backs and can walk four kilometers per hour through the hot desert. Another reason camels are preferred on long desert journeys is that they can go three weeks without needing water to drink.

Genus Camelus

In the genus Camelus, camels are referred to as even-toed ungulates. They have distinctive fatty deposits called humps on their backs. Long domesticated, camels as livestock provide food both milk and meat, and textiles – fiber and felt from their hair.

Camels are working animals, particularly in a desert and are a vital means of transport for cargo and passengers riding them.

Three Surviving Camel Species

One-humped dromedary make up 94% of the camel population in the world

Two-humped Bactrian make up 6% of the camel population in the world

The Wild Bactrian is a separate species and today critically endangered

Bactrian camels are also known as Mongolian camels or domestic Bactrian camels. They are large even-toed ungulates that are native to the steppes of Central Asia. They have two humps on their backs.

Dromedary camels are also known as Arabian camels. They're large even-toed ungulates with one hump on their backs. They are native to the Middle East, the Sahara Desert, and Afghanistan. These camels have been introduced to Australia.

Wild Bactrian camels are critically endangered and live in parts of northwestern China and southwestern Mongolia. They're closely related to Bactrain camels. Both are large, double-humped even-toed ungulates. They're native to the steppes of central Asia.

Interesting Camel Facts

Camels won't spit just for fun but will do so when threatened using spitting as a defense mechanism. If you're nice to camels they'll be your friends. I wrote a story for a challenge about someone who makes friends with a camel “Desert Caravan” I have added a link.

Camels don't store water in their humps. Their humps store fat which helps the rest of their bodies stay cooler. When needed the fat gets converted to water or food.

Their names make them beautiful since the word “camel” comes from an Arabic word when translated it means beauty. Don't you think a smiling camel is beautiful?

Since camels need to stay hydrated on long desert journeys they can drink up to 40 gallons of water at once. This makes it possible for camels to lose up to 25% of water and not become dehydrated making it possible for them to last longer than humans without water.

Traveling circuses keep camels so visitors can see them and take photos with them.

Camels are very sociable animals and in the wild will travel with around 30 other camels seeking food.

Even though American singer and songwriter Clara C came out with a song called “The Camel Song” mentioning a desert full of camels the main theme of the song is love, not camels.

When camels eat thorny twigs they don't damage their mouths.

At present, there are over 14 million camels in the world with most of them found in the Middle East, Asia, and Australia.

A camel's mouth appears to be split in two to help them graze and eat their food more effectively.

In the Middle East camel meat is considered a delicacy with the hump being the best part. Younger camels are tastier than older camels.

Camels have interesting nostrils which can retain water that is then returned to the body when necessary. Their nostrils can also be closed if there is too much sand or wind blowing.

American novelist David Baldacci created a group of characters called The Camel Club. They're featured in five novels, about the government and the Secret Service.

Even though camels are not much like fighters they have been used during past wars by Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Persians who would ride them.

In 1855 the US Congress let the War Department purchase camels with a $30,000 budget. The camels were used for several years until finally, the soldiers grew tired of their smell and bad tempers.

Visiting Abu Dhabi the capital of the United Arab Emirates you can get a camel milkshake with real camel milk. The milk has plenty of Vitamin C and more iron than cow's milk. In Kazakhstan, camel milk is used to treat illnesses like tuberculosis.

The Al-Dhafra Camel Festival takes place every year in Abu Dhabi the UAE. It started on October 21, 2023, and ran till February 8, 2024. It celebrates the Bedhoin lifestyle.

Among the popular events is the beauty contest featuring thousands of camels competing for the title.

The Camel Mobile Library in Kenya provides people with literature. The camels are used to take books to areas that would otherwise not have access to a library.

Camels don't have very thick fur. Their coats reflect the sun making it easier for them in the desert and they don't get too hot.

Camels might appear slow and lumbering but they can run up to speeds of 40 mph moving more comfortably at up to 25 mph.

Finally there is a legend known as the Legend of the Red Ghost. It tells the terrifying story of a red camel wandering in the Arizona desert. It causes all kinds of horrors like killing people and trampling tents. It all began in 1883 at Eagle Creek a lonely ranch located near the Arizona-New Mexico border. A woman was trampled to death by a strange red-haired beast with a skeleton-like creature strapped to his back. For those interested the story can be found online. The accompanying drawing is from True West Magazine.