KEY POINTS
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Wild Camel is the official name (Camelus ferus), it is not a wild Bactrian camel (very important) as was originally thought.
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Critically endangered – Red Book listed
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Approximately 600 in China (population stable)
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Approximately 450 in Mongolia (population slowly rising)
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Less than 500 Wild Camels survive in 500,000 sq.miles of Mongolia
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No other country in the world has wild camels in the wild and only in Mongolia are they in captivity
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1922, the two populations were permanently separated by road, rail links in China.
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55,000 sq kms reserve in Mongolia established by UNEP in 1979 (Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area “A”)
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155, 000 sq kms reserve in China established by WCPF in Lop Nur, China’s former nuclear test area in 2003 (Lop Nur Wild Camel National Nature Reserve)
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In 1995, John Hare OBE was first foreigner to enter Lop Nur for 45 years
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John Hare OBE co-founded Wild Camel Protection Foundation in 1997 and has undertaken seven six-week expeditions into the area – five on domestic camels – at the time there were still imperfectly mapped areas. No water = no people.
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John Hare OBE /WCPF obtained the funding for the Chinese reserve from the World Bank ($650,000)
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In China (not Mongolia) wild camels exist in the heartland on salt water with a higher content of salt than sea water.
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A camel – any camel – has a stronger immune system than any other large mammal, which is a very relevant field of study in relation to current pandemics.
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In Lop Nur wild camels survived 43 atmospheric nuclear tests with no apparent untoward effects.
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Mongolia Wild Camel Breeding Centre was established by WCPF in 2004 with 8 wild camels
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Today there are 35 and the centre is full, with 6 births expected in the spring.
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There were two successful releases of eight wild camels into the desert in 2012 and 2015
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New extension to the breeding centre at Toli Bulag has been approved by all relevant local authorities
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Funding is URGENTLY REQUIRED (£35,000) so that the fence at the new breeding centre can be built before a nucleus group of Wild Camels can be moved to the new site in September before the onset of the harsh Mongolian winter.