Camels are fascinating animals, and are named for the Arabic word meaning “beauty”. These animals are designed to thrive in areas of the world where very few can, and have done so for centuries.
Camels are primarily desert dwellers, and can go for long periods without water. They can do this because they are extremely efficient with their resources. When they do drink, however, they can drink up to thirty gallons in ten minutes. Most people think that camels are storing their water in their famous humps, but actually, their fat is stored there. Because their fat is stored in their humps, camels are able to keep cooler in hot temperatures.
Dromedary camels (one hump) and Bactrian (two humps) camels can ride anywhere from 80 to 120 miles a day, and they can kick their legs in all four directions. They can be commanding 6 to 6.5 feet tall, and weigh anywhere from 550 to 1500 pounds.
The hardworking camel prefers fresh vegetation to eat, but is actually omnivorous, which means they will eat just about anything that is available to them if necessary. They especially enjoy salty plants, and actually need them because of their exposure to extreme heat.