Curiosity Corner: How do camels live without much water?

Camels are frequently referred to as the "ships of the desert," and rightfully so. They live comfortably and travel in some of the hottest, driest places on Earth, where water is rare and temperatures at times can become very extreme. Whereas most animals may hardly survive a day without water, camels are able to go many days, and at times even weeks, without drinking water. This remarkable capability does not involve magic but, rather, intelligent biological adaptations that enable camels to conserve water and energy in harsh desert conditions.

The truth about camel humps
Contrary to the general perception, water does not get stored within camel humps. The hump actually contains camels' stored fat. This is part of the energy reserve that camels could draw upon during food scarcity. As a result of breaking down fat into energy, about a small amount of water accompanies this process. By keeping this in one place, the camels avoid having fat spread all over their body, helping reduce heat and water loss.

Camels lose very little water
Camels are masters in water conservation. Unlike humans, even in extremely high temperatures, they hardly sweat. Their heavy fur acts like an insulator from the desert sun and slows down the rate at which water is lost from the body. Camels possess kidneys that are very efficient and form highly concentrated urine and dry dung so that nearly no water is wasted as excretion. Every drop inside a camel's body is used carefully.

Special blood cells help them survive

Camels have peculiar, oval-shaped red blood cells, whereas all other animals have round-shaped blood cells. With such special cells, camel blood flows without any hitch even when the animal is dehydrated. When they finally do find water, they are able to guzzle as much as 100 litres in a short span of time in a matter of only minutes. Their blood cells can safely expand, which does not burst and thereby rehydrates them faster.

Clever noses save water

The camel's nose plays a significant role in water conservation. Inside their long nasal passages, moisture from exhaled breath is trapped and reused instead of being lost. This ingenious system enables camels to recycle water from their own breath. Over time, this small saving adds up, making a huge difference in dry environments where every bit of moisture matters.

Smart behaviour

It's all in the difference. It's not just their bodies; their behavior plays a major role in their survival. They rest most of the day when it is hottest, and move around more when it's coolest. They can also tolerate up to large changes in their body temperature, which reduces the need to sweat. These adaptations-both physical and behavioral-together make camels perfectly designed to live with very little water in the desert.





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