Ollie sighting, while on a Fall foliage run, yesterday. Ollie the Camel lives at the Round Barn Merinos Farm on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh, VT. with a flock of sheep and an alpaca. With two humps, the Bactrian camel, is part of what Judith Giusto, owner of Round Barn Merinos, a farm and shop in the small, northern Vermont village, calls her “fiber zoo.” Judith obtained Ollie in September 2002, when he was just two months old. The down from Ollie’s coat, along with the fibers from merino sheep are used to create sweaters, scarves, afghans and many other pieces of warm clothing.
Ollie was bred in Wisconsin. Bactrian Camels originate in the steppe country of Eurasia and Mongolia. There are more domesticated Bactrian Camels than wild Bactrian Camels. For a while there was some concern that they were extinct in the wild.
Bactrian camels have adaptations that allow them to survive some of the harshest climates on earth.
From eyes with 3 lids, long lashes, and nostrils that can close to block out sand and snow, to the way their mouths can process tough forage and are able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach prior to digestion.
Fat is stored in their humps, which can be converted into energy, allowing them to withstand long periods without food or water. Under certain conditions, such as during cooler weather when they are not exerting themselves too much, they have been known to endure months without drinking. The camel’s body is built to conserve water in other ways: they sweat and pee in only small amounts, and they produce dry feces. When they do drink, they can consume as much as 26 gallons in a matter of minutes.When they well fed, and in good condition, their humps sit high and upright. When lacking food or water, their humps appear to deflate and sag. Bactrian camels are the heaviest members of the camel family (Camelidae), weighing up to 2,200 pounds. Bactrian camels have been recorded at speeds up to 40 miles per hour. The lifespan of Bactrian camels is estimated at up to 30-50 years.
