Wild Camels in Gobi

Recently I read "Mysteries of the Gobi,
Searching for Wild Camels and Lost Cities in the Heart of Asia by John Hare". A interesting book and the 2nd book on the Gobi Desert that I read.

The Gobi Desert is fascinating and I am in awe of the wild Bactrian camel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bactrian_Camel) for its resilience in its harsh environment. It is a critically endangered animal with less than 1000 estimated to be still living in the Gobi Desert in China/Mongolia.

I do not know when my interest in camels start, maybe a few years ago. They seem so gentle despite the harsh environment and conditions that they live/"work". On the other hand, I also heard they can be quite needing time for newcomers to adjust to their "table manners" :> They burp out their partially digested food. This I have to agree haha!

I remember seeing them first time during a bus ride in India. I was looking out the window and I saw these huge caravens full of hay. I was wondering who was carrying then and before long, saw that it was actually camels pulling the loads. The camels were huge and they go about in an unhurried and uncomplaining manner with their heavy burden.

Not longer after in Taj Mahal, I finally came face to face with the camels again. This time, they were working as pullers of carts transporting people. Wow I can smell them literally! There were green liquid stuffs on the floors and I guess it must be the digestive juices or stuffs. I remembered spending quite a while observing them. Really big gentle creatures in my view.

It is a shame that the wild bactrian camel has been driven to such level of existence by Man. From the crew of Planet Earth (BBC awardm winning program) who spend 2 months trying to get footage of the wild bactrian camel in Mongolia, we can know they are so scared of Man and will run at the scent of Man from 4-5 kilometres away.

Currently there are some groups now trying to save them from extinction and I hope their efforts will succeed.