Bactrian Camel

News: This year, two Bactrian camels named Galwan and Nubra marched on Kartavya Path in the Republic Day Parade.

About Bactrian Camel

• The Bactrian camel is a double-humped camel scientifically known as Camelus bactrianus.
• Naming: The name “Bactrian” comes from the ancient region of Bactria, located between present-day Afghanistan, Iran and Kazakhstan
• Distribution
  • Globally: It is native to Central Asia and occupies regions from Afghanistan to China, including the Mongolian steppes and the Gobi desert.
  • Smaller populations exist in northern Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and India.
  • In India: It is found only in the cold desert of Ladakh, mainly in the Nubra Valley.
• Key characteristics
  • Hump structure: The two humps store fat that can be converted into energy during long periods of food scarcity
  • Body adaptation: Its nostrils can close to block dust, and its broad feet help movement on sand and snow.
  • Cold tolerance: It has a thick, shaggy coat that becomes dense in winter and protects it from temperatures as low as minus 40°C.
  • Thirst survival: It can withstand thirst for long periods and can survive by eating snow to meet hydration needs.
  • Feeding habit: It feeds on bitter, thorny and saline plants and is mainly herbivorous.
• Historical significance
  • The Bactrian camel was central to Silk Road trade and was known as the “ship of the Silk Road.”
  • It enabled movement of goods, people, monks and ideas across Central Asia and India.
  • Chinese Buddhist monks Faxian (Fahien) and Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) travelled from China to India in caravans that included Bactrian camels.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered