A WILDLIFE park has welcomed the birth of two Bactrian camels, who “are in desperate need of protection” in what they are calling a “camel baby boom.”
The first calf arrived in time for a double Royal celebration at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
Mum Elizabeth, who was born during the Queen’s Diamon Jubilee in 2012, has given birth to a baby girl in time for this year’s Platinum Jubilee festival.
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The second calf arrived on Friday March 11, and mum Darcy was very proud of her girl and she gave birth while the rangers who care for the animals were close at hand.
Ayshea Seston, Hoofstock Team Leader at the park, said the team was “ecstatic to have two new additions to the herd,” and it was “lovely” to have two calves born closely together.
She said: “We can’t wait to see visitors' faces when they spot the new arrivals.
“It is lovely to have two calves born closely together so they will grow up together – it will be lovely to see them playing together in the reserve.
“It was especially exciting to see the birth of Darcy’s calf this morning as they usually give birth at night but she had waited for us this morning!”
The two new additions have yet to be named but the park hopes they will be a “firm favourite” in the park at Auckley near Doncaster.
According to the park, the domestic strain of Bactrian camels are not endangered but the true wild Bactrian camel is a distinct species having evolved independently from other camels and is in desperate need of protection.
They are found in the desert of Mongolia and China but their numbers have dropped to around 1,400 because of hunting, habitat loss, competition for grazing from other livestock and illegal mining activities.
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The camels have two humps and they grow thick coats in the winter then shed them for the summer to cope with extreme temperatures.
Watch the birth below:
NEWBORN CAMEL BABY!! 🐫🐫
— Yorkshire Wildlife Park 🦁 (@YorkshireWP) March 11, 2022
Today we welcomed an adorable new member to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park family! ❤️
Keep an eye out over the next few weeks to see how mum Darcy and her little bundle of joy settle in 🤗 pic.twitter.com/FdAvbHbzJu
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