Dromedary Camels

Good afternoon, my name is George Moya and I am a mammal keeper here at the Gladys Porter Zoo. And here with me today is Bonnie. Bonnie is a dromedary camel and they are found in the Middle East, Northern India and Africa, mainly in the Sahara Desert. She may look a bit awkward but they have very unique features. Dromedary camels are diurnal, which means they are active during the day. They spend most of their day foraging for vegetation. Dromedary camels are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants. They use their thick lips to eat thorny plants and eat vegetation most animals cannot or will not eat. Here at the zoo we feed hay, grain and alfalfa. In the desert, camels can drink up to 30 gallons of water in just 13 minutes. They can survive without water for a week. Their short and thick hair protects them from the sun in the daytime and keeps them warm during cold nights. Camels have large eyes and good eyesight, which helps them recognize threats that are miles away. And their thick eyebrows protect their eyes from direct sunlight. Dromedary camels have several fascinating ways of protecting themselves from the sand during a sandstorm. They have long eyelashes, which helps to keep sand out of their eyes. In addition to a nictating membrane, a third eyelid, which offers additional protection against flying sand. Camels also possess slit-like nostrils, which they are capable of closing, protecting them not only from the sand, but potential dehydration. Another unique feature that protects camels from their sand is their small, densely haired ears, which are also capable of folding back during a sandstorm, offering extra protection. Adult males grow to be approximately six and a half feet tall and can reach weights upwards of 1,600 pounds at maturity. They have one hump, which is vital to their desert living. Dromedary camels, like Bonnie here, have one hump. This hump stores fat, not water. The fat serves as a valuable source of energy when food is scarce. Camels have long legs with broad feet, which helps them from sinking into the sand. Each foot has two toes with a thick padded bottom that's spread out, evenly distributing their weight across the sand. Camels are faster than they appear, keeping up with some of the fastest horses on the planet, with a top speed of 40 to 45 miles per hour at short distances and a sustained speed of 25 to 35 miles per hour. Pretty cool, right? Thank you for watching and please continue to follow us on social media.