Introduction
Camels are large even-toed ungulates common in Africa and Central Asia. Camels are represented by two distinctive species – dromedaries and Bactrian camels, which differ significantly in size, constitution, and physical characteristics. Because of their unparalleled suitability for the hot and extremely dry environmental conditions, camels have long been a preferred domesticated animals in many regions of the world. This popularity has led to their integration into the culture of several countries that is noticeable to this day as well as to some environmental effects, such as the uncontrolled growth of the Australian feral population, which remains an issue despite the costly measures.
Anatomy
As of today, two species of camels are known to scientists: the dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) and the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus). Both derive from the same ancestor, Procamelus, which lived during upper Miocene and lower Pliocene (Singh 334).
Bactrian Camel
Bactrian camels are larger and heavier species, weighing 600 to 750 kg., with some specimen exceeding 1000 kg. It is only marginally higher than the dromedary, reaching up to 230 cm in shoulder height. The Bactrian camel is also visually more long-haired, with hairs on the mane reaching 25 cm. in length. However, the most distinctive feature is the two humps in comparison to the one hump of dromedary camel. They consist of the fatty tissue which is used to accumulate energy (Stoker 579). The mechanism of storing energy in fat is common throughout the animal kingdom but unlike the rest of mammals, who usually have fat distributed all over their bodies, the localization of fat helps decrease insulation that makes camels more suitable for hot environments.
Dromedary
The dromedary is much lighter species. It usually ranges from 300 to 600 kg. in weight with females being usually smaller than males, but because of its longer limbs, it is only slightly shorter than the Bactrian camel, reaching 1.9 meters in height. It is also more short-haired, does not have a prominent beard or mane, and is visually more lightly-built. Finally, it has one hump, which is much bigger and taller than that of Bactrian camel.
Both species are well adapted to the extreme desert conditions. Aside from the humps which are used to store calories and metabolize them when needed, the internal organs of camels are very efficient at conserving water. The kidneys preserve water from being wasted during urination, so the camel’s urine is thicker than that of other species, and its feces are dry enough to be used for burning at once (Feldhamer et al. 210). In addition, the hooves of camels are wide and flat, suited for traveling the sandy deserts.
Distribution and Population
The camels are widely distributed across Asia and Africa. Currently, the dromedaries are the most widespread species, with the total population of around 13 million animals. Bactrian camels are significantly rarer, totaling around 1.3 million animals. Interestingly, despite their scarcity compared to dromedaries, Bactrian species still exist in its wild form in some regions of the Gobi desert. The population is scarce, counting around 600 animals, and is steadily decreasing. Because of this, the Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered project declared them one of the ten focal species in 2007 (“Bactrian Camel” par. 2). The dromedaries also occur in the wild, but unlike the Bactrian camels, are feral animals. The populations of feral camels exist throughout the world, with a notable example of Australia, where they were introduced in the 19th century. Since then, the population of feral camels in Australia peaked in 2008 with estimated one million animals but have since decreased due to the government programs. The Australian camel population includes both dromedaries and Bactrian camels, with the approximately same ratio, where the latter comprise less than 10% of the total.
Domestication and Impact
The unique characteristics of camels made them highly appealing for the population of African and Asian countries. As a result, the species were successfully domesticated. While there is no definitive information, it is clear that at least in the first century BC the camels were already domesticated. This has led to the situation where the domesticated species remained while the wild became extinct. The small population of Bactrian camels can still be found in the wild, but all the dromedaries are the descendants of the domesticated variety. The domestication has led to the integration of camels into the culture.
UAE
The camels have been historically used in UAE mainly as animals of burden and as mounts. Their endurance and robustness granted them recognition to the point where they were deemed a gift of God in the national lore (Salem par. 3). The camel’s superior qualities as a mount also led to the emergence of the camel racing as a sport. These three main applications are present in UAE today. Despite the shift towards modern transportation, some families still own several animals used mainly to carry burden. In addition, camels are used to this day as a source of meat and dairy products, although these uses are limited and mostly restricted to use as a tourist attraction. The camel racing, on the other hand, is fairly popular in UAE even today and is not likely to disappear in the observable future. Only dromedaries are used for racing due to their higher agility. Finally, the animals in UAE are sometimes used for ritual sacrifice during festivals, although this practice is rare and is officially discouraged. Overall, both Bactrian and dromedary camels are firmly integrated into the Arabian culture and ecology and are an integral part of life in UAE (Salem par. 5).
Australia
However, the situation is radically different in Australia. The camels (both Bactrian and dromedary) were introduced there in the nineteenth century as a part of colonization. Their characteristics made them a perfect mount for desert expeditions. With the introduction of the motorized vehicles in the early twentieth century, the need for camels declined, and many owners released them into the wild. The conditions in Australia were favorable for camels, so the population steadily rose, reaching one million animals in 2008 (Brain par. 6). As is usual in such situations, this has led to ecological issues. First, the camels severely undermine farming, eating up vegetation needed for cattle. In addition, this causes the erosion of soil. The camels also deal noticeable damage to the infrastructure in attempts to gain access to water. This has prompted the government to create Australian Feral Camel Management Project, which has led to the decrease of the numbers to around 300000 animals (Brain par. 4).
Conclusion
Both species of camels have a visible impact on the culture and ecosystem of their habitat. Due to their unique biological characteristics, both dromedaries and Bactrian camels are widely presented in the African and Asian world. They are long domesticated, and despite most of their applications are now obsolete, they remain a formidable part of the culture. However, the same superior characteristics create serious ecological issues in Australia, where both camel species are actively battled by the collective state effort.
Works Cited
Brain, Caddie. Report Released as Feral Camel Cull Ends. 2013. Web.
Bactrian Camel (Camelus ferus). 2007. Web.
Feldhamer, George, Lee Drickamer, Stephen Vessey, Joseph Merritt, and Carey Krajewski. Mammalogy: Adaptation, Diversity, Ecology, Baltimore, Maryland: JHU Press, 2015. Print.
Salem, Fatma. Camels a Key Part of UAE’s Rich Heritage. 2010. Web.
Singh, Tomar. Evolutionary Biology, New Delhi, India: Rastogi Publications, 2003. Print.
Stoker, Stephen. Organic and Biological Chemistry, Boston, Massachusetts: Cengage Learning, 2015. Print.