Zoo Miami Welcomes Birth Of Critically Endangered Bactrian Camel
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Zoo Miami is proud to announce the birth of a critically endangered Bactrian camel.
After a pregnancy of approximately 14 months, "Sunny," a 3-year-old female gave birth to what appears to be a healthy baby girl.
The newborn camel, who is still unnamed, weighed just over 96 pounds.
"Sunny" has been at Zoo Miami since November 2017 after arriving from her birthplace at the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines, Iowa.
The father is 9-year-old "Bubba," who came from the Minnesota Zoo in 2012.
This is the first offspring for both parents.
PIX: Birth Of An Endangered Bactrian Camel At Zoo Miami
Bactrian camels are critically endangered in the wild where it is believed that less than a thousand remain. They are found in isolated pockets of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and China and are distinguished from the Dromedary camel by having two humps as opposed to one. They can live up to 50 years and weigh over 1,500 pounds.
Contrary to popular belief, their humps are not full of water, but rather fat, which can enable them to go for long periods of time without any food. They rarely sweat and are extremely adept at conserving water which enables them to get much of the water they need from the vegetation they eat. When they do drink, they have the ability to drink up to 30 gallons at a time. They are also well adapted for living in extreme temperatures, growing a very thick coat to withstand winter temperatures well below zero degrees Fahrenheit which they will shed in the summer when temperatures can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mom and baby will remain off exhibit until the two have bonded well and the newborn's development is progressing well.