Key Features and Importance of Camels in Desert Life
A camel is a domestic herbivorous animal also known as ‘the ship of the desert'. It has been domesticated for more than 3500 years now. In a camel essay, we must mention that camels are useful to humans in numerous ways. They are also loved for their obedience, intelligence and friendly nature.
This is a short paragraph on camel in English which is going to discuss the animal’s physical features, adaptations, distribution, and economic importance to humans.
Camel Topic: Physical Features
The striking features of camels are their long slender legs. The feet of the camel are padded. This equips the camel to run and walk on sand. In an essay on camel in English, it is important to mention that their body is covered with thick hair. Camels have two nostrils which they can close during sandstorms. The eyes of the camels are guarded by thick eyebrows and long lashes; these protect the eyes from sand. They have a long neck which facilitates them to feed on leaves on branches. In a camel essay, we must mention that they have one or two big hunches on their back. These humps are basically deposited fats. Oxidation of these fats helps camel to survive during food scarcity. In an essay on camel in English, we should mention that camels have a water-storing bag in their stomach. Because of this special adaptation, camels can survive in the desert without water and food for a long period of time. In an essay on camel in English, we should highlight that when camels drink water, they absorb water like a sponge. For example, a 600 kg camel can drink 200 litres of water in 3 minutes! Also, camels are ruminants.
Distribution: In a Camel Essay in English
The Arabian camels have a single hump while the Bactrian camels possess two humps. The former is found in Africa and South-Western Asia while the latter is found in the Gobi desert of Mongolia and China.
5 Sentences about Camel in English
Camels are known for their intelligence.
It is said that camels do not forget a path it has traversed once. Hence, they do not get lost in deserts.
They are calm and do not cause harm to anybody.
Camels feed on green vegetation, thorns, and twigs.
The average lifespan of this mammal is about 40 to 50 years.
In a camel essay in English, we should mention that camels have been used for various purposes by man since ages.
10 Sentences about Camel in English: The Uses
The most common usage of a camel is as a mode of transportation in the desert.
Camel milk is a staple in the desert. It’s said to be highly nutritious.
A female camel can produce up to 7 litres of milk per day.
Camel’s hair is used in the textile industry.
Camel skin is used for the manufacture of leather.
Camels are used in agriculture extensively.
They are used for drawing water from wells and a perform lot more work.
Camels can grow up to 7 feet in height.
Camel’s laid-back look is quite deceptive. They are good runners.
Because of their desert adaption, camels are known as the ‘Ship of the desert.’
So, these are just a few sentences about camels. In a camel essay in English, we should also focus on the fact that camels have become critically endangered. To save them from exploitation, we must behave responsibly and not make them overwork. The Government of India has set up the National Research Centre on a camel in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
A Camel Essay in English with Key Highlights
Camel is known as ‘the ship of the desert'. This friendly domestic mammal is herbivorous and feeds on leaves and vegetation. Camels are extremely useful to human beings. They are used for agriculture, transportation and for their milk and meat.
If we are to write 10 lines on camel in English, we must mention that-
Camels are quadruped animals with lean long legs and padded feet, which enable them to walk and run on sand.
Camels have special water-storing cells in the stomach which store water for later use.
Camels have one or two humps on their back which stores fat.
Camels can live up to many days in the desert without food and water.
Camels have their body covered with hair and their skin is thick to save them from the severe heat of the desert.
Camels are known to be intelligent animals. They do not forget the path they have travelled once. Hence, they do not get lost in the desert.
They are used as a mode of transport in the desert region.
They are also used for sowing the field, carrying loads, drawing water and a lot more different works.
Camel milk is suggested for people having high diabetes, cholesterol, dengue and lactose intolerance.
Camels are extremely fast runners.
In a short essay on camels, we must also mention that camels are of friendly nature, well mannered and intelligent. They do not inflict any harm to human beings. They should be conserved, used responsibly and saved from exploitation.
Writing about animals often comes as a series of topics to write in English essays for elementary school children. This topic seems easy for some if they have a thorough knowledge of the animal. However, it can be written in a haphazard manner with no structure.
Be it on the topic of camels or any other animal, children are taught to write an essay that should be wordy and grammatically correct; however, they need to understand the purpose of writing this essay. Are they writing to showcase their knowledge about the animal or express their thoughts in English more clearly? Well, it has to be a combination of both.
Steps and Approaches while Writing an Essay
Not a Fictional Essay
Children need to be told explicitly that it is not a fictional essay. They are not writing a specific story about a camel. The topic covers general facts and information about the animal camel. If this instruction is not clarified to the students from before, they might perceive the essay in a different manner altogether. The difference between a topical essay and a short story writing should be taught to children as both have different writing styles.
Their own Viewpoint
Although the essay topic tests the students’ ability to present information about the camel in English’s most accurate grammatical way, there should be a scope of originality in the essay. This can be incorporated in the conclusion section of the essay where the children can be asked to express their view about the camel or the issues it is facing in its habitat. The conclusion section of the essay could show how the kids can express their ideas in English fluently and correctly.
Points to Remember while Writing an Essay on Camel
The Beginning of the Essay
The essay can begin with the introduction of the animal kingdom. It could talk about the various species that inhabit the Earth. This point can be followed by two or three sentences about the mammals who live in the jungle, mountains, and deserts and how they adapt to their surroundings.
Writing about the Camel
After the introductory paragraph, the children need to write about the camel. It is better to give each section of the essay a structure. This could be done by asking the five W questions about the camel- What is a camel? Where does it live? What does it eat and drink? Why do people in the desert ride a camel?
Your essay will get a logical structure, with each section answering the questions.
The Physiological Aspects of the Camel
Some sections of the essay’s body need to present the physiological aspect of the camel. It could talk about the camel’s body structure, especially about the humped back and hooves that make it easy for them to walk in the sand without sinking their feet. The food and the diet of the camel can also be discussed in the following paragraph with information on how it stores food and water to survive in the desert.
Present your knowledge about Geography
When you answer the aspect about where camels reside, rather than simply putting it in one line that it is found in the deserts, one can also say why the desert is a suitable environment for the camel. You can also showcase your general knowledge about the deserts in the world where camels are found in large numbers.
Domestication of Camels
This part of the essay will come just before the conclusion. You can write about how travelers have used camels to cross deserts since ancient times as they can walk in the sand and easily carry an immense load. Trivia about how camel milk is used in many Middle Eastern countries and how camel meat is the saltiest would make your essay more enriched and exciting to read.
FAQs on Camel Essay: How Camels Survive and Thrive in the Desert
1. What are the main physical features that help a camel survive in the desert?
Camels have several special adaptations to thrive in harsh desert environments. These include:
- Humps: They store fat, not water, which can be converted into energy and water when food is scarce.
- Long Eyelashes and a Third Eyelid: These protect their eyes from blowing sand. They can also close their nostrils to keep sand out.
- Thick Lips: This allows them to eat thorny desert plants without injury.
- Wide, Leathery Feet: Their large, padded feet spread their weight out, preventing them from sinking into the sand.
2. Why are camels often called the 'Ship of the Desert'?
Camels are called the 'Ship of the Desert' because of their incredible ability to transport people and heavy goods across vast, dry deserts with little need for water. Just as a ship travels across the ocean, a camel navigates the 'sea of sand', making it an essential mode of transport in desert regions.
3. What is the difference between a Dromedary and a Bactrian camel?
The main difference between the two types of camels is the number of humps and their native habitat. The Dromedary camel has a single hump and is typically found in the hot deserts of the Middle East and North Africa. The Bactrian camel has two humps and is native to the cold deserts of Central and East Asia.
4. How do camels manage to survive for long periods without drinking water?
Camels have several unique ways to conserve water. Their bodies are designed to minimise water loss; they produce very dry dung and concentrated urine. They can also tolerate a much greater loss of body fluid than other mammals. When they do find water, they can drink over 100 litres in just a few minutes to rehydrate quickly.
5. Do camels really store water in their humps?
No, this is a common misconception. A camel's hump does not store water; it stores large amounts of fat. This fat serves as an energy reserve. When the camel's body metabolises this fat, it releases water as a byproduct, but its primary purpose is providing sustenance, not hydration.
6. How are camels useful to humans, especially in desert areas?
Camels are extremely useful to humans in many ways. They are used for:
- Transportation: Carrying people and goods across difficult desert terrain.
- Food: Providing milk, which is highly nutritious, and meat.
- Resources: Their wool can be used to make textiles like blankets and clothes, and their dung can be used as fuel.
7. How do a camel's unique feet help it walk on sand?
A camel's feet are perfectly adapted for walking on sand. They have two large toes on each foot that spread apart, and a broad, flat, leathery pad underneath. This design acts like a natural snowshoe, distributing their weight over a larger area and preventing them from sinking into the soft, shifting sand.
8. What makes camel milk different from cow's milk?
Camel milk has a different nutritional profile compared to cow's milk. It is generally lower in fat and cholesterol but is significantly richer in certain nutrients. For example, it contains about three times more Vitamin C and up to ten times more iron than cow's milk, making it a valuable food source in arid regions.
