The Camel

A camel is a large hoofed animal commonly referred to as the ship of the desert because of his ability to survive in the harsh climatic regions. It was designed by the maker in a unique manner. For example, its feet are angulated and even toed instead of hooves so that it travels through the desert sands without sinking.

There are two species of camels; the one humped dromedary camel which is used for transport and the Asian two humped bacterium camel that is commonly undomesticated living in the Gobi desert.

The common misconception is that people believe that camels store water in their humps though when thirsty they can drink up to one hundred and fifteen liters of water in just ten minutes. However, it is not the case, instead the hump stores fats and when a dry spell hits them, the fats are re- absorbed and converted into energy until the next meal.

Camels are also able to tolerate much greater liquid losses than most other animals, which is an adaptation to the harsh desert climatic region. Camels found in the colder deserts like the Asian two humped camels are quite hairy and they shed their hair when every other hot weather conditions arise. The average undomesticated Camel lives for forty years but those with longer life spans live up to fifty years. The domesticated camel on the other hand, which has been used as a means of transport or ‘courier’ services can hardly live to its twenty fifth year. Perhaps it was designed as a tourist attraction rather than a beast of burden.

Camels staple food defers depending on its location such as whether it is in the desert, zoo or domesticated. Those in the desert eat just about anything including leather while those in the zoos or domesticated eat meat, dates, wheat fish and bones. They need an average of 3.5 kilograms of food everyday. Interesting to note, camels can naturally swim when the situation calls for it.

Here in Kenya, the Camel is used by nomads in their day to day activities. They help in transportation and can be milked. Their milk is actually thirty percent less fat than that of a cow and is good for those concerned with calorie intake. Among the Gabbra community, the camel is used as a dowry commodity and it is an abomination for the man’s family not to present a camel (usually five is the minimum) to the lady’s family. Can be seen at the Marsabit Nataional Park

Desert Safaris