Endangered Alert: The Wild Bactrian Camel
When you think of endangered species, camels may not be one of the first animals you think of. After all, they are abundant in Egypt, with most tourists getting their photo taken on (or at least near) a camel during their vacation. Camels are also still widely used as work animals in many countries in Africa. However, count the humps on all of those camels, and you will find that each one has only one. In fact, it is their two-humped cousins found mostly in Asia that are endangered .
The Wild Bactrian Camel is a two-humped ancestor of domesticated camels, and has been considered critically endangered since 2002. It’s estimated that there are only about 1,000 of these wild camels left in their native desert habitat of northwest China and Mongolia, mainly in the Gobi Desert. Following studies in the 1990's, the camel was reclassified as critically endangered , a move which was met with mixed feelings by conservationists who feel that as more and more animals face extinction, it is only when we really feel a species plight is desperate that we are moved to do something to save them.
The species is uniquely adapted to the harsh desert habitat it lives in and although it’s widely believed it’s the ancestor of domesticated camels, some studies suggest a there is a significant DNA difference between the wild and domesticated Bactrian camels. The camels have been around for centuries as humans started to domesticate and use them as work animals about 4,000 years ago. The wild camels can survive by drinking salt water and the thousands of years living in the desert probably has helped them develop an immune system which can fight off certain types of disease.
While natural drought has caused the harsh conditions of their native desert to become even more difficult, human activity has definitely exacerbated the problems that these camels face to survive. The Bactrian camels are hunted for food and sport and they are also seen as competition for grazing space for domestic animals and livestock. Legal and illegal mining activity is also affecting the population of the species, and their natural habitat and resources are depleted. The camels must also face natural predators. As the years of drought have caused many of the region’s oasis to dry up, wolves often hide out and wait for the wild camels at the few remaining sources of water.
Bactrian camels have an adorable way of moving their mouth which makes them look as if they are smiling. Let's hope that we can take action to keep their happy faces around for generations to come.
How Can You Help?
The Wild Camel Protection Foundation has developed a captive breeding program to help replenish the numbers of wild camels. So, hopefully this animal will still be around in the years to come. The Edge of Existence Program has also added the Wild Bactrian Camel to their top ten list of endangered species whose plight needs further protection and promotion.
