Which camel species should most zoos keep?

[La Cucaracha]

Although camels are sort of a taken for granted, ABC animal, domestic Bactrian camels can serve as animal ambassadors for wild Bactrian camels.
I do enjoy seeing dromedary camels contrasted next to Bactrian camels, personally, and I slightly prefer dromedaries.
Honorary mention for guanacos, which zoos sadly don't seem to get the public more interested in.

 

[Fallax]

Personally, I'd have to say dromedaries. I don't know how it is elsewhere but here in the UK, while Bactrian camels are a common sight in zoos the Dromedary has become very rare.

 

[Dassie rat]

The camel species that needs most help from conservation is the wild Bactrian camel

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

The camel species that needs most help from conservation is the wild Bactrian camel

The wild Bactrian camel isn't found in zoos.

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

Although camels are sort of a taken for granted, ABC animal, domestic Bactrian camels can serve as animal ambassadors for wild Bactrian camels.
I do enjoy seeing dromedary camels contrasted next to Bactrian camels, personally, and I slightly prefer dromedaries.
Honorary mention for guanacos, which zoos sadly don't seem to get the public more interested in.

Bactrian camels because they can educate the public on the plight of the wild Bactrian.

Guanacos (And ideally Vicuñas as well) because of their status as the wild counterpart(s) of the domesticated Llama (And Alpaca).

Truthfully, I don't see the need for Dromedaries, Llamas or Alpacas unless the zoo itself has a children's section.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Bactrian camels because they can educate the public on the plight of the wild Bactrian.

To be honest, either kind of domestic camel could be used for that purpose given the fact that the Wild Camel is not the ancestor of the Bactrian Camel, and barring the number of humps looks more like the Dromedary so they would be just as fitting as Bactrian.

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

To be honest, either kind of camel could be used for that purpose given the fact that the Wild Camel is not the ancestor of the Bactrian Camel so Dromedary would be just as fitting as Bactrian.

Bactrian camels actually resemble the wild Bactrian though, Dromedaries do not. I'd argue that if you're going to use a domesticated species in place of the real thing, at least choose one that looks like the species they're standing in for.

I would also like to note that over here in the United States, it's Bactrian camels who are uncommon in comparison to Dromedary camels. Be it in zoos or the private trade, you're a great deal more likely to encounter Dromedaries casually. You have to go looking if you want to see Bactrians.

 

[La Cucaracha]

To be honest, either kind of camel could be used for that purpose given the fact that the Wild Camel is not the ancestor of the Bactrian Camel, and barring the number of humps looks more like the Dromedary so they would be just as fitting as Bactrian.

There's only one wild camel.

 

[TinoPup]

There's only one wild camel.

Not sure what you mean by this? The wild Bactrian herd, C. ferus, genetically doesn't seem to be the ancestors of the domestic Bactrian. As @TeaLovingDave stated, the domestic Dromedary much more resembles the wild Bactrian except for the number of humps.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Bactrian camels actually resemble the wild Bactrian though, Dromedaries do not.

As I already said, barring the number of humps the resemblance between Bactrian Camel and Wild Camel is pretty superficial; the former is larger, shaggier and noticeably more robust than the latter, with differently-shaped humps and browner hair. Conversely, the Dromedary is gracile, paler and with rather shorter sandier hair.... just like the Wild Camel.

Either option is inferior to the (sadly infeasible) option of establishing a captive population of Wild Camel, but neither is superior to the other.

 

[15399]

I would also like to note that over here in the United States, it's Bactrian camels who are uncommon in comparison to Dromedary camels. Be it in zoos or the private trade, you're a great deal more likely to encounter Dromedaries casually. You have to go looking if you want to see Bactrians.

I don't think that's necessarily true nationwide. While I don't doubt there might be regions where it is true, in the northeast at least bactrian camels are by far the camel species I've seen most often (in fact I think it's been years since I last saw a dromedary).

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I would also like to note that over here in the United States, it's Bactrian camels who are uncommon in comparison to Dromedary camels. Be it in zoos or the private trade, you're a great deal more likely to encounter Dromedaries casually. You have to go looking if you want to see Bactrians.

I don't think that's necessarily true nationwide. While I don't doubt there might be regions where it is true, in the northeast at least bactrian camels are by far the camel species I've seen most often (in fact I think it's been years since I last saw a dromedary).

Out of curiosity, I just did a search in the gallery for all photographs of Dromedary and/or Bactrian Camel taken within North American collections; the result was 258 photographs of Dromedary and 455 photographs of Bactrian which rather belies the claims by Wisp!

Or to put it another way......

I'd say that out of every ten camels, seven, maybe even eight of them are dromedaries while the rest are bactrians.

I'd say that out of every ten camel photographs only 3.6 are dromedaries

 

[TeaLovingDave]

We're talking about the general public here. At best, one of the few things that they know about camels is that bactrians have two humps, while dromedaries only have one hump. They either don't know or don't care about all the other physically differences between the two varieties.

Ergo, if you want a proxy for the wild camel, you want to use the domesticated species that has two humps like it. Nothing else really matters as far as the public is concerned.

In other words, you're backtracking and changing your argument from "Bactrian camels actually resemble the [Wild Camel] though, Dromedaries do not" to "the general public are uninformed and physical resemblance is irrelevant" within the space of an hour

 

[dillotest0]

Given the situation of camels in the wild I personally think either works.
If one wants a 'wild animal' display then Bactrian I think especially; but a dromedary can make a nice exhibit as well.

 

[RatioTile]

I've been wondering for a long time: Why are vicuñas basically absent from the US, but common in Europe? Are there import restrictions specifically for them, but not the other camelids?

 

[Great Argus]

Out of curiosity, I just did a search in the gallery for all photographs of Dromedary and/or Bactrian Camel taken within North American collections; the result was 258 photographs of Dromedary and 455 photographs of Bactrian which rather belies the claims by Wisp!

Or to put it another way......



I'd say that out of every ten camel photographs only 3.6 are dromedaries

Furthered by the fact the AZA prefers facilities to hold Bactrian, and has loosely managed Bactrian until recently. Dromedary on the other hand is neither recommended nor monitored.

I've been wondering for a long time: Why are vicuñas basically absent from the US, but common in Europe? Are there import restrictions specifically for them, but not the other camelids?

Most likely a combination of no interest and thus no space.

 

[TeaLovingDave]

I've been wondering for a long time: Why are vicuñas basically absent from the US, but common in Europe? Are there import restrictions specifically for them, but not the other camelids?

There were attempts to organise a concerted import several years ago, but lack of interest, financial concerns and changing zoo politics meant most of the planned participants dropped out and the eventual import was both delayed and significantly smaller in scale. I think @ThylacineAlive may know more on the subject?

 

[dillotest0]

a pity...
I would imagine there are some natural areas of the US that would make for nice vicuna areas. Maybe moreso than Europe...
Though now that I come to think of it there does seem to be good abundance of all the camelids [aside the wild Bactrian] in European zoos... but in America the emphasis seems to be on domestics

 

[TeaLovingDave]

Though now that I come to think of it there does seem to be good abundance of all the camelids [aside the wild Bactrian] in European zoos...

That said, the Guanaco feels like it is in decline within European collections, even if it is still pretty numerous at present.

 

[dillotest0]

That said, the Guanaco feels like it is in decline within European collections, even if it is still pretty numerous at present.

I recall prior to Beale's acquisition the UK population was quite stagnant... some odds'n'sods remaining from years prior here'n'there but no breeding.
So maybe that was part of it...