Gobi the Camel

Meet Gobi, resident of Riverview Park and Zoo! Gobi the Camel has two humps.

Did you know there are 3 different species of camel in the world, including the Bactrian (domestic), wild Bactrian and Dromedary. Bactrian camels have 2 humps like the letter “B”.

Bactrian camels are migratory animals that live in habitats that vary from cold mountains to dry deserts. They adapt with a thick layer of insulating fur that is shed in the spring. The Bactrian camel has two toes on its large flat-bottomed feet which can spread widely to help the camel walk on desert sand.

Camels can go without water for several weeks but when they find water, they can drink up to 57 litres at once. Whoa! Each of the Bactrian camel’s humps weigh approximately 33 kilograms (73 pounds). Fat tissue in the humps can be metabolized as a source of energy which can allow the camel to survive for about two weeks without water and one month without food.

The slender nostrils of the Bactrian camel can be sealed and it has long eyelashes that help to keep penetrating sand out during harsh desert sandstorms. 

Less than 1000 wild Bactrian camels exist in the world, in China and Mongolia. The Bactrian camels are part of our Species Survival Plan here at the park and zoo.

Visit us or our website to learn more: www.riverviewparkandzoo.ca