The Wild Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus), a two-humped camel, is native to the arid plains and hills of Northwest China and southwestern Mongolia. Distinct from its domesticated counterpart, this species possesses remarkable traits like the ability to consume water saltier than seawater and endure extreme temperature fluctuations from 50 °C in summer to -30 °C in winter. Despite these adaptations, the wild Bactrian camel faces a crisis, currently classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). With fewer than 950 individuals remaining globally, its numbers continue to decline, underscoring threats to its survival.
Shrinking and Fragmented Habitats
Human activities cause significant loss and division of the wild Bactrian camel’s desert habitat. Infrastructure development, such as roads, railways, and pipelines, cuts through migration routes, isolating camel populations and restricting movement. Mining operations degrade these desert areas, destroying habitat and disturbing wildlife through their activities and pollution. These industrial incursions consume large amounts of water, leaving less for the camels and other desert species.
Agricultural expansion converts desert lands into farming or grazing areas for domestic animals. This reduces foraging grounds for wild camels, forcing them into smaller, fragmented pockets of their range. Human settlements expanding into camel territory further diminish their living space. This constant human presence and development leads to habitat loss and degradation, making it challenging for them to find food, water, and safe breeding grounds.
Illegal Hunting and Poaching
Illegal hunting and poaching significantly contribute to the decline of wild Bactrian camel populations. Camels are hunted for their meat, consumed locally, providing sustenance in remote regions. Their hides are also sought for various products, adding to the incentive for poaching. Parts of the camel are also used in traditional medicine, fueling illegal killing.
Retaliatory killings by herders, who perceive wild camels as competitors for scarce resources or a threat to their domestic livestock, also occur. Reports indicate that approximately 20 wild camels are killed annually in China for subsistence, and another 25 to 30 are poached in Mongolia each year. This direct, deliberate killing places immense pressure on an already small and vulnerable population, hindering recovery.
Competition for Scarce Resources
Domestic livestock, including sheep, goats, and other camels, introduce significant competition for the wild Bactrian camel in arid environments. Overgrazing by these animals depletes vital vegetation, leaving insufficient food for wild camels, especially in areas with sparse plant life. This competition extends to limited water sources, where domestic herds often monopolize access to oases and springs, especially during droughts.
Close proximity between domestic and wild camel populations facilitates disease spread. Wild camels may lack immunity to pathogens from domestic animals, making them vulnerable to outbreaks that can decimate their small numbers. This indirect impact leads to resource depletion and poses serious health risks for wild Bactrian camels, further stressing their survival.
Climate Change and Environmental Stressors
Environmental shifts, intensified by climate change, pose challenges to the survival of the wild Bactrian camel. Increased desertification, driven by changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures, expands arid lands and reduces habitable areas for camels. This leads to more frequent and intense droughts, resulting in severe shortages of water and food across their range.
Extreme weather events, such as unusually harsh winters known as “dzuds” in Mongolia, can decimate camel populations by reducing access to forage and water under ice or snow. Changes in vegetation patterns and availability, directly influenced by altered climatic conditions, impact the types and quantity of plants wild camels rely on for sustenance. These large-scale environmental factors create a difficult survival environment, pushing the species closer to extinction by limiting essential resources and increasing vulnerability to natural challenges.