A male dromedary camel calf was born at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) Bronx Zoo. Photo by: Julis Larsen Maher/WCS.
The dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) is the world’s largest camel. It’s easily recognizable by its single hump.
Today the species is almost entirely domesticated and is found throughout Africa and the Middle East. The one ‘wild’ dromedary camel population is found in Australia, where they were introduced in the 19th Century and are now considered by some to be a pest.
Dromedary camels are not considered threatened, but their closest living relative, the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), has been listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN since their wild populations are down to about 800 individuals in China and Mongolia. Domestic Bactrian camels are found across Asia.
Male dromedary camel calf. Photo by: Julis Larsen Maher/WCS.