Camel
It’s all about the hump when you’re a camel. This amazing desert mammal is iconic and legendary with a rich history that spans thousands of years of connection with the human race.
I was surprised to find that when reading up on the Camel that they originated in North America 40-50 million years ago and were only the size of rabbit! Over the course of time, the Camel migrated to South America and then across to Asia, when there were once land masses that connected the two continents. Some close cousins of the Camel are the Llama, the Alpaca and the Vicuña, although none of them have the distinctive hump.
Camels have been domesticated for thousands of years and posses a phenomenal genetic makeup. They are capable of surviving in desert heat without drinking water for up to a week and can regulate their sweating and waste production to an absolute minimum in order to maximize their energy in the most extreme conditions.
The Camel’s hump is the result of excess protein stored as an energy reserve, which also increases its ability to dissipate heat throughout the rest of its body.
The Camel has been an invaluable part of the lives of many cultures, especially those of the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. Often referred to as “ships of the desert, humans have long relied on the Camel as not only an important food source, but as a primary means of transportation. Harnessed for its power and endurance, the camel has long served as the backbone of the caravan trade. In short, many societies owe their very existence to this great animal.
I was surprised to find that when reading up on the Camel that they originated in North America 40-50 million years ago and were only the size of rabbit! Over the course of time, the Camel migrated to South America and then across to Asia, when there were once land masses that connected the two continents. Some close cousins of the Camel are the Llama, the Alpaca and the Vicuña, although none of them have the distinctive hump.
Camels have been domesticated for thousands of years and posses a phenomenal genetic makeup. They are capable of surviving in desert heat without drinking water for up to a week and can regulate their sweating and waste production to an absolute minimum in order to maximize their energy in the most extreme conditions.
The Camel’s hump is the result of excess protein stored as an energy reserve, which also increases its ability to dissipate heat throughout the rest of its body.
The Camel has been an invaluable part of the lives of many cultures, especially those of the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. Often referred to as “ships of the desert, humans have long relied on the Camel as not only an important food source, but as a primary means of transportation. Harnessed for its power and endurance, the camel has long served as the backbone of the caravan trade. In short, many societies owe their very existence to this great animal.