Double Humped Camels

Dec. 5, 2023

The Army recently deployed double humped camels for logistical support to the troops in eastern Ladakh.

About the Double Humped Camels:

  • Double Humped Camels or Bactrian camels, have two humps on their backs where they store fat.
  • Scientific Name: Camelus bactrianus
  • Distribution:
    • They are native to the harsh and arid regions of Central Asia.
    • They occupy habitats in Central Asia from Afghanistan to China, primarily up into the Mongolian steppes and the Gobi desert.
    • A small population of Bactrian camels exists in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh.
  • Features:
    • They are up to 10 feet (3.0 m) long and weigh 590-1000 kg.
    • They are smaller and slenderer than the one-humped dromedary camels found in Africa and the Middle East.
    • Their fur colour varies from beige to dark brown.
    • They have thick, woolly coats that provide warmth during the cold months and insulation from the desert heat, and they shed this for the summer months.
    • Lifespan: 50 years
    • They typically live in herds of 6-20 members, although they can occasionally be solitary or in groups of up to 30 individuals.
    • Diet: They are omnivores but are primarily herbivores that constantly graze on grasses.

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