Camels are known as the "Desert Boat" and are one of the few large mammals in the desert.
There are 6 species in the camel family, namely dromedary camel in Africa and West Asia, bacterium camel in Central Asia, native camel in South America, alpaca , alpaca , llama and camel horse .
Their ancestors all lived in the North American continent. About 40 million years ago, they migrated from Bering Strait to all over the world, and different species were reproduced due to different geographical and climate influences.
The camels we often talk about mainly include two species: single-hunch and double-hunch, and single-hunch accounts for 95% of the total number of camels.
However, wild single camels have long been extinct. Wild double camels ( wild camels ) are the only surviving wild Bactrian camel species in camels genus , but its situation is also very difficult. The zoological community even once believed that wild camels have also become extinct.
In the 1850s and 1860s, Russian explorer Purgewalsky discovered the traces of wild camels during his inspection in Lop Nur, Xinjiang, my country, and people were surprised to find that the wild camels did not disappear.
Camels and wild camels are "family"?
The shape of home camels (domestic Bactrian camels) and wild camels are very similar. For a long time, scientists have thought that home camels and wild camels are the same species, and wild camels are just wild populations of home camels.
However, Chinese scientific researchers collected the hair and skin of wild camels and conducted genetic testing with home camels. The results of show that the genes of wild camels and home camels are actually 2%-3%, achieving interspecies differences.
In other words, home camel and wild camel are actually two different species. No matter how long the home camel is put in the wild, it will not become a wild camel.
Scientists speculate that as early as 800,000 years ago, home camels and wild camels had differentiated into different populations. With the changes in the environment, the ancestors of domestic Bactrian camels gradually became extinct in the wild, while wild camels tenaciously survived in the harsh desert.
In fact, on the surface, the camels and wild camels seem to be very similar, but in fact there are obvious differences between the two:
camels grow stronger, with long and dense hairs, mixed hair colors, thicker limbs, and camels are also taller and harder, which is more suitable for carrying weights.
Wild camels are tall and thin, with short and sparse hairs, a single gray or light brown-yellow color, and the camel is smaller and can run at a speed of 50-80 kilometers per hour. The existence of wild camel population plays a crucial role in the continuation of high-quality home camel population.
Camel's special "superpower"
As an ancient species, camels have many peculiarities and are of great research value. Let's take a look at the magical "superpower" of camels:
- Can survive even if you drink salt water
Scientists have discovered that camels are the only terrestrial creature in the world that can survive by drinking salt water. In the arid areas of our country, wild camels can survive by sporadic bitter and salty salt springs, which is very surprising!
However, for this magical point, John Haier, an official of the United Nations Huajing Administration and founder of the British Wild Camel Protection Fund, expressed the helplessness behind it: is actually completely forced by humans!
Wild camels originally lived on the grassland, enjoying the sweet fresh water like home camels. Human activities and unlimited grazing have destroyed their habitats and drove them to the deserts and depths of the Gobi Desert where no grass grows.
In order to survive, wild camels can only continuously adapt to survival in a drought and water-deficient desert area, and evolve an unusual digestive system.
- Camels will shed tears
People find that camels will shed tears, but camels are not what we imagined to cry because of sadness. Because the living environment of camels is very harsh, sandstorm is a common occurrence. Camels are washing away the sand in their eyes by crying.
Moreover, camels have many "tricks" to adapt to the harsh living environment. Its eyelashes are thick and long, which can block wind and sand; the nose is very soft and there are valves in the nostrils. Before the storm comes, it can be closed at any time without affecting breathing. It's amazing!
- Super strong ability to resist hunger
Camels have super sensitive noses and can smell odors dozens of kilometers away in the wind, making it easier for them to find water sources.
Usually, a camel will not be in danger of life without eating or drinking for a few days, and can still survive without drinking water for dozens of days in winter, but the body will look thinner.
However, once there is enough water, they can drink more than 10 kilograms at a time and can recover their original weight within a few hours.
They store water in the stomach pulp (pāo). Camels have a special protein in their plasma, which can maintain the moisture in the plasma. Camels rarely sweat and urinate, which can make them more thirst-tolerant.
In addition, camels have a lot of fat stored in their hump. When they cannot get food, these fats can allow the camels to survive without eating for four or five consecutive days.
Why don’t carnivores eat camels?
Many people are very confused. Elephants weighing 5 tons will be eaten. Why aren’t they seen camels eaten by carnivores? Can camels have natural enemies? of course, except for humans, wolves are the biggest natural enemy of camels.
Desert areas usually use camels as their main food. They usually lie quietly near the springs of the desert, waiting for the camels to go to the springs to drink water before taking the opportunity to attack.
Snow Leopard , vultures on the Gobi Desert are also one of the natural enemies of camels. Many little camels were hunted and hunted by vultures hovering in the air when they were born.
Camels have neither sharp fangs nor horns that can be used as weapons, and they don’t run fast. When encountering large beasts or natural enemies, it is basically difficult to escape.
However, we do have few chances to see the scene of camels being hunted by natural enemies or other carnivorous animals.
First of all, most camels in nature are domesticated by humans, and they live with humans in pastures with fresh water and excellent grass quality. The camels live in the pastures have good living conditions and are protected by humans. Most carnivorous animals dare not cause too many tricks.
Secondly, camels live in desert Gobi areas, mostly in unmanned areas, the environment is very harsh, the summer is hot and the winter is extremely cold.
People may be frozen after spending half an hour outdoors. They are lukewarm and windy from time to time. It is difficult to find the traces of camels in the vast desert, let alone witnessing carnivores hunting camels.
Even if a camel is eaten by a carnivore, in the cruel environment, several sandstorms blow over, how can there be any trace?
Furthermore, the heart of the desert lacks fresh water, and often strong winds blow, sand and stones flow. It is a miracle that camels can survive with rough desert food and bitter salt water. Carnivores that require more energy may not survive!
Currently, the number of wild camels worldwide is less than 1,000 peaks, and they are only in my country and Mongolian . They have been included in the "Red Book" of the world's endangered species.
As a unique species, wild camels have become even rarer than the "national treasure" giant panda.
However, the treatment of wild camels is very different from that of giant pandas. They survive in the harsh desert environment and are often forgotten by people.
Reference:
[1] Camel research and protection: status and prospects, Sichuan animal
[2] Animals that are rarer than giant pandas: wild camels, green Chinese
