Wildlife Conservation Efforts

Species in news: Doubled-humped Camels

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Double-Humped Camels

Mains level: NA

camel

Central Idea

  • Indian Army has inducted double-humped camels for patrolling and logistical support along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.

About Double-Humped Camels

  • The Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), is also known as the Mongolian camel, domestic Bactrian camel or two-humped camel.
  • Their name comes from the ancient historical region of Bactria.
  • It is a large even-toed ungulate native to the steppes of Central Asia.
  • It has two humps on its back, in contrast to the single-humped dromedary.
  • The humps are plump and pliable. They store fat, which can be converted into water and energy when food and water resources are scarce during harsh winters.
  • A small population of Bactrian camel exists in the Nubra valley of Ladakh.

Significance of deployment

  • These camels serve to patrol the LAC and provide logistical aid to troops in the difficult, barren landscape of Eastern Ladakh.
  • They can carry 170 kg and patrol up to 15 km without rest, surpassing the load capacity of mules previously used by the army.
  • The Army’s 14 corps is deploying these camels in strategic areas like Depsang and Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) along the LAC.

Try this PYQ from the 2019 CS Prelims:

Q. Consider the following statements:

  1. Asiatic lion is naturally found in India only.
  2. Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only.
  3. One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Post your answers here.
1
Please leave a feedback on thisx

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Subscribe
Notify of
1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
User Avatar
1 year ago
Post your answers here." Read more »

(a)

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Join us across Social Media platforms.

💥Mentorship December Batch Launch
💥💥Mentorship December Batch Launch