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Water storage
"A dromedary's hump stores fat. This allows a dromedary to survive for several days without water and food in a hot desert. The fat from the hump is used to extract energy and moisture."
Discover in real lifeHabitat:
deserts around the world
Food:
all different (desert) plants
Lifespan:
40 - 50 years
Weight:
between 300 and 600 kg
Number of young:
1 young
Gestation period:
15 months
To be seen:
along the bus safari and car safari
About the dromedary
The dromedary lives in deserts around the world and is perfectly adapted to this dry, hot habitat. Unlike the camel, which has two humps, the dromedary has only one. Fat is stored in that hump, which is converted into energy and moisture in times of scarcity. Thus, it can go days without food and drink. Dromedaries eat all kinds of desert plants, even thorny or bitter species that other animals turn their noses up at. They can weigh between 300 and 600 pounds and usually live to be between 40 and 50 years old. A female usually gives birth to one young at a time, after a gestation period of as much as 15 months.
Habitat and threats
The dromedary is native to the arid regions of northern and eastern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and southwest Asia. It has also been spread by humans to northern India, Australia and the Canary Islands, among other places. Attempts to keep dromedaries in Europe were less successful.
Areas where dromedaries were used as pack animals now sometimes have feral populations. The largest group is in central and western Australia. There they were used in the 19th century for transportation in arid areas. When they were no longer needed, many animals were released. There are now hundreds of thousands of feral dromedaries, which in some places cause overgrazing and damage to the ecosystem. Although the species is not threatened worldwide, they can be a problem for wildlife in non-original habitats.
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Species conservation in Beekse Bergen
Fortunately, the status of dromedary is least concern. But, unfortunately, many of the species you see in Beelkse Bergen are endangered and struggling in their native habitats. Did you know that more than 10,000 animal species in the world are in danger of extinction? Together we can help them, with big, or small steps. Want to know how?