A new baby that weighed-in at 102 pounds at birth is turning up the
“cute factor” a notch at the Detroit Zoo. The male Bactrian camel
named Bulgan was born April 28 to mother Suren and father Rusty.

Pronounced (BULL-gan) he was named for a province in Mongolia where the
species is from.The calf is about 3 feet tall and could grow to about 7 feet
tall by the time he”s four years old.

According to the Detroit Zoo website, camels are born after a gestation
period of a year to 14 months.

A newborn calf is able to stand and walk alongside its mother in as little as
30 minutes. Contrary to popular belief, camels store fat – not water – in their
humps, providing energy when food is limited.

The Bactrian camel has two humps, compared to the dromedary camel, which has
one. The easiest way to remember this camel trivia is to turn the first letter
of the camel”s name on its side. “B” for Bactrian has a double hump
and “D” for dromedary has a single hump.

With the ability to survive in temperatures ranging from minus 20 degrees to
122 degrees Fahrenheit, Bactrian camels are well-suited to Michigan”s climate.
They grow thick winter coats to withstand cold temperatures, and in the summer
their coats shed away in large clumps, giving them a ragged, unkempt
appearance.

Visitors can check out Bulgan, along with his parents and a 16-year-old
female camel named Princess, at the camel habitat across from the Horace H.
Rackham Memorial Fountain at the Detroit Zoo.
 

By Scott Brewer

Source: http://www.myfoxdetroit.com