Meet Humphrey
Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius)
Native Habitat: Arid regions of the Middle East through Northern India/arid regions of Africa
Average Height (at shoulder): 5.9-6.6 feet
Average Weight: 880- 1,230 pounds
Wild Diet: Herbivores. They eat thorny plants, dry grasses and saltbush. They will eat almost anything that grows in the desert
Fun Fact: The camel’s hump is not used to store water, but instead acts as a fat reserve for times of food scarcity.
Humphrey was born in May 2001 and made his way to the zoo 3 years later. He has become one of the zoo’s most beloved animals over the years through his friendly demeanor. Humphrey loves seeing visitors every day and especially enjoys standing in the water mist on a day.
The Dromedary camel is easily distinguished by its simple hump versus the Bactrian camel of the Gobi desert which has two humps. Camels have numerous adaptations for their desert lifestyle. They have calluses on the chest and legs to protect them from the hot sand when laying down, as well as large, broad feet that are heavily calloused that expand when they step down and contract when lifted to ease walking. Their eyes have a double row of eyelashes to protect them against blowing sand. Their lifespan is 40 years. Camels were domesticated over 4,000 years ago and have become a valuable source of meat, milk and transportation for desert cultures.
