What is the reason why we only breed domestic Bactrian Camels and not Wild Bactrians?

Bella-Mae

Bella-Mae

New Member
(Im refering to zoo kept Camels) I got asked this question on Quora and I am usually pretty good in my animal knowledge, however I can't answer this or think of a possibility why you rarely see wild Bact camels in zoo's or breed that type?

I've just spent 10/15mins googling this question and Im still unable to get an answer, so if you no then please share!
 
Wild Bactrian camels are very rare and only in the hands of a few Mongolian conservation programs. Given the fact that their population is so small, they may want to avoid transporting individuals and may be hesitant to give individuals to foreign countries.

I do wish, however, that a large enough breeding population could be established so that ex-situ backup populations could be maintained in foreign zoos. No other domestic animal is given such 'reverence' as the domestic Bactrian.
 
ChunkyMunky pengopus said:
Domestic Bactrian Camels are often displayed in zoos on the same level as other species, whereas most other domestics are relegated to barns in children's zoos, or their habitats are clearly demarcated as in a domesticated setting with theming.
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Yaks, for example, don’t get this luxury (even though their wild cousins are in a similar situation to the wild Bactrian camels).
 
TinoPup said:
I frequently see yaks like that, though? They're rarely signed as being domestic or in a domestic area. Same with dromedary camels and water buffalo.
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I think the case with these species is that to the general audience in western zoos they are seen as more exotic as compared to other domestics they are not associated with your typical western farm. People are more likely to associate camels with deserts, yaks with Tibet, and water buffalo with tropical Asia than with farmyards and this association influences the way they are exhibited in western zoos.
 
Mayki said:
I think the case with these species is that to the general audience in western zoos they are seen as more exotic as compared to other domestics they are not associated with your typical western farm. People are more likely to associate camels with deserts, yaks with Tibet, and water buffalo with tropical Asia than with farmyards and this association influences the way they are exhibited in western zoos.
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Like Watusi/Ankole Cattle in many African-themed exhibits !
 
Bella-Mae said:
(Im refering to zoo kept Camels) I got asked this question on Quora and I am usually pretty good in my animal knowledge, however I can't answer this or think of a possibility why you rarely see wild Bact camels in zoo's or breed that type?

I've just spent 10/15mins googling this question and Im still unable to get an answer, so if you no then please share!
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because their population is very few, they are not in captivity at all (most likely) and its illegal to caught them.
 
TinoPup said:
I frequently see yaks like that, though? They're rarely signed as being domestic or in a domestic area. Same with dromedary camels and water buffalo.
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Mayki said:
I think the case with these species is that to the general audience in western zoos they are seen as more exotic as compared to other domestics they are not associated with your typical western farm. People are more likely to associate camels with deserts, yaks with Tibet, and water buffalo with tropical Asia than with farmyards and this association influences the way they are exhibited in western zoos.
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Haliaeetus said:
Like Watusi/Ankole Cattle in many African-themed exhibits !
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I did think of Watusi, Dromedaries, and Yaks when making the post, but from what I've seen at least, there is often better signage about them being used as domesticated animals.

ChunkyMunky pengopus said:
No other domestic animal
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This phrasing was probably a bit extreme, however, as the average visitor will probably leave with a similar impression of Yaks, Watusi, or Dromedaries as they would of Dromedaries. I still stand by my opinion that Dromedaries are presented as a 'level above' the others (In terms of exoticness/ being an undomesticated species)
 
Watusi live frequently in mixed-species plains with other large animals in European zoos and safari parks : Giraffes, Rhinos, Ostriches, Zebras, Antelopes...
I've also seen Llamas and Alpacas in mixed South American exhibits, with Capybaras, Maras, Brazilian Tapirs, Rheas...
 
I do think it is less common with llamas and alpacas, I've definitely seen them more in children's farms and such... This can probably be put down to them still being decently familiar as "farm animals" and the fact that guanaco and vicuña are common in captivity too.
 
I think domestic Bactrians on average grow larger than their wild counterparts and grow more hair too. I know I'd rather see a big domestic Bactrian vs an average or small wild Bactrian. The domestics serve as proxies for the wild Bactrians while highlighting the need for ex-situ conservation efforts in Mongolia and the rest of their natural range.
 
Sarus Crane said:
I think domestic Bactrians on average grow larger than their wild counterparts and grow more hair too. I know I'd rather see a big domestic Bactrian vs an average or small wild Bactrian. The domestics serve as proxies for the wild Bactrians while highlighting the need for ex-situ conservation efforts in Mongolia and the rest of their natural range.
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With yaks it is the opposite - wild yaks score amongst the largest ungulates in Asia - whereas their domesticated relatives are rather smaller [and presumably less hairier].
 
Domestic bactrians are easy/cheap to obtain, keep and breed. Used for direct contact with public. They also come in different color tones including white.

While wild bactrians are dull in appearance, with unknown captive needs and they are basically unobtainable.

However it doesnt stop Prague zoo to put "wild bactrian camel" label over one planned enclosure in their master plan. Considering their good contacts in Mongolia, future import is not completely out of question. Just unrealistic. I bet they will simply continue to keep domestics. Wild ones are not worth the hassle.
 
Jana said:
Domestic bactrians are easy/cheap to obtain, keep and breed. Used for direct contact with public. They also come in different color tones including white.

While wild bactrians are dull in appearance, with unknown captive needs and they are basically unobtainable.

However it doesnt stop Prague zoo to put "wild bactrian camel" label over one planned enclosure in their master plan. Considering their good contacts in Mongolia, future import is not completely out of question. Just unrealistic. I bet they will simply continue to keep domestics. Wild ones are not worth the hassle.
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Around Winter for sure some Domestic Bactrian Camel in zoos can look rather attractive and 'puffed-out' - though their thinner summer coat looks rather drab. I'm also not sure how phased visitors are by the colour of the camel - they will generally be happy to see a camel of any colour.
Though that is to say, if one were to place in front of them a wild bactrian camel as opposed to the standard domestic, I'm not sure how phased viistors would be about that - in most visitors' mind, a camel = a camel; somewhat more sophisticated visitors may recognise the differences between a Bactrian and a Dromedary. [One noteworthy way I recall is that a Bactrian camel has two humps like the uppercase B - whereas the Dromedary has just one - as does uppercase D.]
Though speaking of domestic animals of 'higher degree' - perhaps reindeer can also be brought up - with reindeer it is something of a 50/50 - some zoos make decision of making a large exhibit out of them - whereas others give them rather basic housing, though rarely at a children's farm. [Marwell had reindeer at its Childrens' Farm in 2004, which - funny enough - also housed a Bactrian Camel for some period of time ! In subsequent years, the camels were moved to a more major enclosure.]
 
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Jana said:
Domestic bactrians are easy/cheap to obtain, keep and breed. Used for direct contact with public. They also come in different color tones including white.

While wild bactrians are dull in appearance, with unknown captive needs and they are basically unobtainable.

However it doesnt stop Prague zoo to put "wild bactrian camel" label over one planned enclosure in their master plan. Considering their good contacts in Mongolia, future import is not completely out of question. Just unrealistic. I bet they will simply continue to keep domestics. Wild ones are not worth the hassle.
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Is there anyone who doesn't have good relationship with Prague (except perhaps Russia and China)?
 
There exists a breeding centre for wild camels in Mongolia since 2003, and it is even asking for donations.
The Wild Camel Protection Foundation (WCPF)

I feel it suffers from remoteness, both in terms of few conservationists knowing it exists, and of extreme habitat difficult even for camel to live in. Who knows, maybe it is possible to convince them to export some camels to zoos? Or maybe translocate to another place in Mongolia or Kazakhstan which is well watered and easily accessible.
 
Jurek7 said:
There exists a breeding centre for wild camels in Mongolia since 2003, and it is even asking for donations.
The Wild Camel Protection Foundation (WCPF)

I feel it suffers from remoteness, both in terms of few conservationists knowing it exists, and of extreme habitat difficult even for camel to live in. Who knows, maybe it is possible to convince them to export some camels to zoos? Or maybe translocate to another place in Mongolia or Kazakhstan which is well watered and easily accessible.
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I'd wait for a substantial population before thinking about importing them, there seems to have been a lackster in births in this center...
 
It's very simple, I think.

In the US, you can only import camelids from Australia or Canada. I've read many zoochatters discuss how zoo imports of ungulates are restricted for protection of the livestock industry.
 
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