Latin name: Camelus ferus

Two Humps!

• The camel's two humps do not contain water but fat. It can store up to 50 lbs of it and, if fasting, can metabolize it into energy and water.

• Its large feet act as snowshoes to prevent it from sinking in the sand. Its insulating wool acts as a thermal shield, protecting it from the sun's hot rays during the day, and the biting cold of desert nights.

• It also has unusual teeth for a herbivore, as it includes canines! Some incisors and molars are also modified and look like canines. These teeth might come in handy during combats.

• It is able to survive for up to 8 days without water, it can drink nearly 120 litres of water at one time.

• The wild Bactrian camel is threatened with extinction. It is estimated that there are less than 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild. Loss of habitat, increase in predation and hybridization with domestic camels are the main threats to this species.