There's a new baby camel at the Milwaukee County Zoo.The male Bactrian camel was born Tuesday morning to parents Stan and Addie-Jean (better known as A.J.).Zoo staff said the calf was doing well and appears to be very strong. He was up and moving shortly after his birth. Zoo staff said he was observed nursing from mom throughout the day. A.J. is 9 years old and Stan is 8 years old. This is A.J. and Stan's third offspring. They have two other sons: Jethro, who was born in 2019, and George, born in 2017. Jethro and George have since transferred to other zoos.Zoo staff said the new calf underwent a neonatal exam Wednesday and he weighed in at 94 pounds. It was considered a good, healthy weight for a newborn camel. And it marked A.J.'s largest calf in weight. If the calf, who will be named soon, continues to do well, and progress as he should, zoo staff said visitors can see him in the outdoor Camel Yard, with mom and grandmother. Bactrian camels can be distinguished from other species of camels by their two humps — other species only have one. They have several adaptations that allow them to survive in these harsh conditions. For example, their humps allow them to travel long distances without food or water. It is a common misconception that the humps store water; however, they actually store fat, which can be used as energy when nutrients aren't available. Wild Bactrian camels are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Their population is expected to decrease by 80% in the next three generations because of hunting and predation.Photos, video and info provided by the Milwaukee County Zoo.
There's a new baby camel at the Milwaukee County Zoo.
The male Bactrian camel was born Tuesday morning to parents Stan and Addie-Jean (better known as A.J.).
Zoo staff said the calf was doing well and appears to be very strong.
He was up and moving shortly after his birth. Zoo staff said he was observed nursing from mom throughout the day.
A.J. is 9 years old and Stan is 8 years old.
This is A.J. and Stan's third offspring. They have two other sons: Jethro, who was born in 2019, and George, born in 2017. Jethro and George have since transferred to other zoos.
Zoo staff said the new calf underwent a neonatal exam Wednesday and he weighed in at 94 pounds. It was considered a good, healthy weight for a newborn camel. And it marked A.J.'s largest calf in weight.
If the calf, who will be named soon, continues to do well, and progress as he should, zoo staff said visitors can see him in the outdoor Camel Yard, with mom and grandmother.
Bactrian camels can be distinguished from other species of camels by their two humps — other species only have one.
They have several adaptations that allow them to survive in these harsh conditions. For example, their humps allow them to travel long distances without food or water.
It is a common misconception that the humps store water; however, they actually store fat, which can be used as energy when nutrients aren't available.
Wild Bactrian camels are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Their population is expected to decrease by 80% in the next three generations because of hunting and predation.
Photos, video and info provided by the Milwaukee County Zoo.
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