People in the city often travel by car, bus or bike. People near the sea travel by ship or boat. People in the snowy north have to use sleds. How do people often travel in the desert? Yes! Camels who are large animals living in dry areas can help.
Camels' body structure is different. Camels are very strong animals with wide, padded feet. They have thick leathery pads on their knees and chest. Camels have nostrils that can open and close, protecting them from the desert environment. Bushy eyebrows and two rows of long eyelashes protect their eyes from sand. Their mouth is extremely tough, allowing camels to eat thorny desert plants. Their widened feet help them move without sinking into the sand. Their thick coats stop sunlight, and also protect them from the heat from desert sand. Their long legs help keep them further from the hot ground.
Another is camels' adaptability. Camels are quite well-adapted to long travelling. Camels can go without food and water for 3 to 4 days. There are two kinds of camels. One is the Arabian camel with a hump. The other is the Bactrian camel with two humps. People commonly believe camels store water in their humps. In fact, the humps are actually full of fat, which gives camels power when they go through the desert. Camels are also quite well-adapted to their environment. When weather changes, camels can change their own body temperature, which stops sweating and water loss. They may not sweat at all during the day.
Because oftheseabove, camels can carry people or things through the hot, dry deserts of the world. They are sometimes called "ships of the desert".
However, camels are in danger! The number of camels is becoming smaller for many reasons...
