A domestic Bactrian camel has two humps. Kept in Central Asia, it is adapted to cold winters and hot summers.
Its humps store fat. A thick coat grows for cold weather and is shed when conditions become warmer.
Mongolian domestic Bactrian camels include lines known for traits such as size and wool production. They provide milk, meat and fibre and have also carried goods. Human selection has helped maintain varied livestock traits.
A study published in 2014 compared three distinctive lines and common native camels using blood and hair collected at seven Mongolian localities. After close relatives were excluded, most groups showed extensive sharing of genetic markers rather than clear clusters matching their external classifications.
Four camels sampled in the northwest showed some differentiation. The authors suggest that movement associated with transport and trade may have maintained connections among populations. Appearance and genetic markers thus offer different clues to the history of camels travelling with people.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
For domestic Bactrian camels, conservation includes maintaining genetic diversity and local traits through breeding management. This study was motivated by a decline in Mongolian livestock numbers. Its markers did not reveal a clear recent genetic bottleneck; the authors considered gene flow and older expansion as possible explanations. The work was intended to support traditional husbandry and conservation of genetic resources.