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Writer's pictureAuthor Susan Permut

Some interesting Camel Facts

Updated: Jun 27, 2023

Camels don’t actually store water in their humps.

Despite what we’re led to believe, camels don’t store gallons of water in their humps like a portable well. Their humps are actually used to store fat, which they can live off for weeks, sometimes months! When food is scarce, camels will break down the fats in their humps to use as a source of nutrition. In fact, if a camel hasn’t eaten in a while, then its hump will start to droop as the fat stores empty.

Camels eat grass

Can grow up to 7 feet tall

Their hair reflects the sun which helps to keep them cool

They are born without humps


There are two different types of camel – the Dromedary camel (the kind that has only one hump) and the Bactrian camel (which has two humps).

Where Do Camels Live?

The one-humped camel resides in North Africa and the Middle East, while the two-humped camel is commonly found in Central Asia.

No matter where they live, camels are usually found in desert-type climates. Some camels are native to specific deserts. For example, Bactrian camels are native to the Gobi Desert in China and the steppes of Mongolia.

Camels can also be found in cold weather climates as well, despite popular belief.

Here’s a really gross fact, so prepare yourself – people have actually drunk camel urine before for medicinal purposes! I bet our medicine doesn’t look too bad now, right?


Camel Milk Is Incredibly Nutritious

Camel milk is a nutritious beverage rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. It contains more iron, vitamin C, and unsaturated fatty acids than cow’s milk. Camel milk is also lower in lactose, making it easier for people with lactose intolerance to digest.

It may have therapeutic benefits for people with diabetes, as it may help regulate blood sugar levels. Camel milk also contains immune-boosting compounds like lactoferrin and immunoglobulins. Although it may not be as widely available as cow’s milk, it’s becoming increasingly popular and worth considering as a healthy addition to your diet.


Lifespan Of A Camel

Camels are known for their ability to survive in harsh desert environments, and they have a relatively long lifespan compared to other large mammals. In the wild, camels can live up to 40 years, while captive camels have been known to live up to 50 years or more.

Various factors, including genetics, environment, diet, and disease, influence the lifespan of a camel. Proper care and management, including regular veterinary check-ups, can help camels live long and healthy lives.


Why Do Camels Have A Hump?

The camel’s hump is actually very useful. As we said before, contrary to popular belief, the camel’s hump is not filled with water.

It consists of stored fat which the camels can resource when food and water are very limited.

their droppings are very dry and their urine is extremely concentrated, allowing them to retain more water.

Here’s a gross fact – but a very true one! Believe it or not, camels have a third, clear eyelid which protects their eyes from sand and dirt blowing in the desert.

Camels also have the handy ability of shutting their nostrils during sandstorms. As you can tell, camels are definitely meant to live in the desert.

Camels As A Mode Of Transport

Camels, like donkeys, have been used as a method of transportation for humans for a very long time – thousands of years, believe it or not.

Camels can carry up to 500 pounds on their backs, so people or goods can be transported.

Nowadays, camels are more often used for transporting products rather than people.

Camels can run up to speeds of 40 miles per hour – that’s pretty fast for an animal thought to be rather slow, isn’t it?

What Does The Word ‘Camel’ Mean?

The word “camel” is actually Arabic and means beauty.

Camels do not start sweating until temperatures reach 106 degrees.

Most camels are much larger than humans. The average two-humped camel grows to a shoulder height of 6 feet (1.8 meters) in length and a body length of about 10 feet (3 meters).

They can weigh anywhere from 1,320 to 2,200 pounds.

A one-humped camel can be about 6.5 feet (2 meters) tall and weigh anywhere from 880 to 1,325 pounds.

Many people who see a camel in person are very surprised by how big they actually are.

Camels are not picky eaters. In fact, due to their very thick lips, they can eat some things that would seriously hurt other animals and people – like thorn covered plants, for example.

One thing camels do not eat is meat, because they are herbivores.


Another helpful aspect of their eyes are their two sets of eyelashes, which help keep their eyes clean.

Although camels can a long time without water, it doesn’t mean they don’t need any.

Camels typically live in very hot and dry desert climates and when they find a source of water, they fill up!

A typical camel can down up to 30 gallons of water in a mere 13 minutes.


A typical camel can down up to 30 gallons of water in a mere 13 minutes.

The camel’s body rehydrates very quickly, much faster than any other animal.

In very desperate times, camels can survive up to six months without food or water.


There Is A Camel Festival In The United Arab Emirates

Events include camel racing, beauty contests and best-dressed camel

They spit as a defense mechanism and can spit up to 6 feet. The spit is foul-smelling

Camels can sleep standing up because they can lock their knees and rest their weight on bones and tendons

Check out more fun camel facts for kids (see below) and enjoy learning a wide range of interesting information about camels. Read about how camels have been used by humans throughout history, how fast they can run and much more.


  • Camels have been domesticated by humans for thousands of years. Used mostly for transport or to carry heavy loads, they also provide a source of milk, meat, and hair/wool.

  • Camels live on average 40 to 50 years.

  • Camels are 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) at shoulder level and 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in) at the hump.

  • Camels are capable of running as fast as 65 km/h (40 mph) for a short period of time, and can maintain a speed of around 40 km/h (25 mph).

  • Dromedary camels weigh 300 to 600 kg (660 to 1,320 lbs) and Bactrian camels weigh 300 to 1,000 kg (660 to 2,200 lb).

  • Camels are used mostly for transport or to carry heavy loads, they also provide a source of milk, meat, and hair/wool.

Camels can survive up to six months without food or water by using up these fatty stores. Camels are well suited to the hot sandy deserts they roam in. Their thick coat insulates them from heat and also lightens during summer to help reflect heat. A camel's long legs help keep its body high up from the hot desert surface and a pad of thick tissue called a pedestal helps slightly when the camel sits so cool air can pass underneath. A large camel can drink around 30 gallons (113 liters) in just 13 minutes, making them able to rehydrate faster than any other mammal. Long eyelashes, ear hair, and closable nostrils keep sand from affecting the camel, while their wide feet help them move without sinking into sand. Camels have long been used in wartime. Romans used camels for their ability to scare off horses who are afraid of their scent, and in recent times camels have been used to carry heavy gear and troops across hot sandy deserts. · There are estimated to be over 14 million camels in the world. Camels introduced to desert areas of Australia are the world's largest population of feral camels.


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