The Camel's Enduring Presence In Afghanistan's Landscape And Culture

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South and Central Asia, known for its diverse wildlife. The country is home to a variety of animals, including the Bactrian camel, a species of large even-toed ungulate native to the dry and desert areas of Central Asia. Bactrian camels, characterised by their double humps, are believed to have had an enormous range historically but are now mostly domesticated, with small numbers found in Afghanistan, among other countries. Camels were introduced to South Australia in 1838 by Afghan Cameleers, who were camel handlers from various countries including Afghanistan, and played an essential role in navigating the harsh desert terrain.

Camels are native to dry and desert areas of Asia and northern Africa

Camels are large even-toed ungulates in the genus Camelus. There are three surviving species of camel: the one-humped dromedary, the domesticated Bactrian camel, and the wild Bactrian camel. Both the dromedary and Bactrian camel are native to the dry and desert areas of Asia and northern Africa.

The dromedary camel, also known as the Arabian camel, is the best-known member of the camel family. It is native to northern Africa, western Asia, and the land of east Africa, including Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Dromedaries have one hump and are desert dwellers. They are taller and faster than Bactrian camels and can maintain 8-9 miles per hour for hours with a rider.

The Bactrian camel, on the other hand, has two humps and is found in Central Asia. They are shorter, have longer hair, and can carry heavier loads than dromedaries.

Camels are well-suited to their desert habitats and have numerous adaptations that help them tolerate extreme hot and cold environments. They have thick coats that insulate them from the heat, and their body temperature fluctuates throughout the day, rising during the day and falling at night. Camels rarely sweat, even in high temperatures, and they have wide, snowshoe-like feet that prevent them from sinking into soft sand and desert sands.

Camels are also able to go for long periods without drinking water, a characteristic that has earned them the name "ships of the desert." They can withstand a loss of up to 30% of their body weight in water, and their nostrils can close to keep out sand. Additionally, they have bushy eyebrows and long eyelashes that protect their eyes from blowing sand.

Camels have been domesticated for thousands of years and are a vital means of transport for passengers and cargo. They are also valued for their milk, meat, wool, and hides.

There are two species of camels: Dromedary and Bactrian

There are two species of camels: the Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) and the Bactrian (Camelus bactrianus). The Dromedary, also known as the Arabian camel, has one hump, while the Bactrian has two. Both are native to the dry and desert areas of Asia and northern Africa. The name "camel" comes from the Greek "kamelos" and the Hebrew "gamal", meaning "camel".

The Dromedary is the more common species, making up 90-94% of the world's camel population. All existing Dromedary camels are domesticated. In contrast, there are two types of Bactrian camels: wild and domesticated. The wild Bactrian camel is a distinct species from its domesticated counterpart and is critically endangered, with fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining.

The Dromedary is native to the northern part of Africa, the Middle East, part of Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. On the other hand, the Bactrian camel is found only in inner, central, and east Asia, including China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, northern areas of Iran, India, Pakistan, and eastern Turkey. Historically, the Bactrian camel had a much wider range, extending to Russia, much of the Middle East, Turkey, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe.

Camels have been domesticated for thousands of years and are used for various purposes, including travel across arid climates, food (milk and meat), textiles (fibre and felt from hair), and even fuel (from dung). They are well adapted to their desert habitat and can survive for long periods without food or water.

Bactrian Camels are found in small numbers in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is known for its diverse wildlife, including its national animal, the elusive snow leopard. The country is also home to Bactrian Camels, which are found in small numbers there. Bactrian Camels are one of two species of large even-toed ungulates in the genus Camelus, the other being the Dromedary (Single hump) camel. Bactrian Camels have two humps and are native to the dry and desert areas of Central Asia. They are well adapted to survive in such arid environments, being able to go days without food and water. While their humps are not used for water storage as is commonly believed, they do serve as a reservoir of fatty tissue, while water is stored in their blood.

Historically, Bactrian Camels had an enormous range, but their numbers have dwindled significantly over time. Today, they are mostly domesticated, with an estimated global population of 1.4 million. Approximately 1,000 wild Bactrian Camels are believed to inhabit the Gobi Desert, with smaller populations found in Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, and Russia.

In Afghanistan, the presence of Bactrian Camels is quite scarce. The country's long-lasting conflicts have negatively impacted both predator and prey species, leading to small and severely threatened populations of many animals. The Bactrian Camels in Afghanistan are part of the remaining wild population or those that have been introduced for specific purposes.

Camels, including Bactrian Camels, have played a significant role in Afghanistan's history and its interactions with other regions. In the 19th century, "Afghans" (camel handlers) and their camels were brought to South Australia to aid in the exploration of the country's interior and navigate the challenging desert terrain. These camels, originating from various countries, proved invaluable for transportation and building infrastructure in the goldfields of Western Australia. The cameleers, or "Afghan Cameleers," faced discrimination and restrictive immigration policies despite their contributions to the region's development.

Camels were brought to South Australia in 1838 by Afghan Cameleers

Afghanistan is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including the Bactrian camel, a species native to the dry and desert areas of Asia and northern Africa. Bactrian camels, characterised by their double humps, were once found in vast numbers, but their range has diminished significantly over time.

In 1838, camels were brought to South Australia by Afghan cameleers, also known as "Afghans" or "Ghans". These camels played a pivotal role in the exploration and development of the country's interior, particularly in navigating the challenging desert terrain that horses struggled with. The cameleers were camel handlers or drivers, and they originated not only from Afghanistan but also from nearby countries such as Pakistan, India, Egypt, Iran, and Turkey.

The Afghan cameleers made significant contributions to the exploration and development of South Australia. They established camel-breeding stations and rest houses, known as caravanserais, creating vital links between coastal cities and remote grazing stations. They also played a crucial role in introducing Islam to Australia and constructing the country's first mosque in Marree, South Australia, in 1861. Additionally, they contributed to the development of goldfield towns in Western Australia, such as Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie, Menzies, and Leonora, by transporting food, water, machinery, and other supplies to these regions.

Despite their valuable contributions, the Afghan cameleers faced discrimination based on their appearance and religious practices. They encountered negative depictions in the media and faced restrictive government policies, including the Immigration Restriction Act (White Australia Policy) from 1901 to 1958, which hindered their ability to obtain naturalisation and re-enter the country after visiting their families abroad.

Bactrian Camels are used for milk, meat, and as beasts of burden

Bactrian camels are also known as "ships of the desert" and can go for long periods without drinking. Their humps consist of stored fat, which they can metabolize when food and water are scarce. They can survive four to seven days without drinking and can go 10 months without drinking at all if they are not working and the forage contains enough moisture. Their bodies rehydrate faster than any other mammal, absorbing over 100 litres (25 gallons) in 5–10 minutes.

Bactrian camels are exploited for milk, meat, wool, and hides. They were domesticated by 4000 BCE in the steppes of Central Asia. Today, there are about 1 million domesticated Bactrian camels ranging from the Middle East to China and Mongolia.

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