Don't get the hump, I'll be your pal (From Daily Echo)

New arrival at Marwell Zoo means Wacker the camel won’t be lonely

7:49am Monday 29th December 2008 in News By Ash Bolton, Senior Winchester Reporter

IT was the perfect way to prevent one camel from getting the hump over the festive period.

Although Marmaduke the camel didn’t bring any gold, frankincense or myrrh, his arrival means one Marwell Zoo resident won’t be alone this festive holiday.

Winchester zookeepers had been searching for a companion for Wacker the Bactrian camel since his partner of 17 years, Tabitha, passed away.

After travelling hundreds of miles from The Welsh Mountain Zoo, Marmaduke the nine-month old Bactrian camel has become inseparable from new pal Wacker.

But at only half his height of 8ft and at 200kg, it will take the youngster several years before he matches Wacker’s weight of almost two tonnes.

At 20 years old, Wacker is one of Marwell’s oldest residents and is already helping the young camel to feel at home.

Keeper Mark Humble said: “Despite their large age gap they are getting on really well and are enjoying getting to know each other. Within hours of meeting, the two camels were nuzzling up to each other and Wacker has now taken on the role of uncle to Marmaduke and enjoys looking after him, I’m sure this has helped Marmaduke settle in so quickly.”

Wild Bactrian camels live in small groups and are superbly adapted to life in the harsh Gobi and Gashun Gobi deserts, two of the most hostile regions on the planet. The camels’ humps act as fat stores and are used when food is scarce. This enables the animals to go for several days at a time without eating or drinking.

Despite the common misconception, water is not stored in the camels’ humps. Upon finding water they will drink vast quantities – as much as 57 litres – to restore their body fluid levels.

If no fresh water is available they can drink salt water with no ill effects – the only mammal that is capable of this.

The species has suffered a drastic reduction in its range and less than 1,000 individuals survive in only four locations in China and Mongolia.

They are officially classified are critically endangered because they have been heavily hunted for their meat and hide over the centuries.