Introducing a Bactrian Camel Baby
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Toronto, ON: We are thrilled to announce the birth of a Bactrian camel calf, born around 7:00am on Thursday, April 30th in the Bactrian Camel Habitat of your Toronto Zoo. The long-legged little camel stood for the first time about two hours later with some encouragement from 11-year-old Mom, Suria. His colouring takes after Dad, Zip, with his very white-blonde coat. Mom and baby are doing well, and the calf has been seen nursing several times.
This is Suria’s third calf with male Zip, and this arrival brings the current camel herd to seven individuals. The first month is always critical, and as mom and calf continue to bond they may not always be viewable to guests. Toronto Zoo staff will continue to monitor both the calf and Suria closely. They are currently living with female camel, Jozy, in the Bactrian Camel Habitat in the Toronto Zoo’s Eurasia Wilds area. Once the calf is a bit older, Wildlife Care staff will begin introductions with other members of the group, including her nearly 3-year-old sister, Carrie, along with Tilly and Jamarcus. Dad Zip, a 10 year-old male, will remain separated in another area of the habitat.
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“Babies are always such an incredible addition to our Zoo especially for a critically endangered species” says Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo. “This little one’s birth right in the habitat this morning reinforces our commitment as wildlife advocates and also serves as a reminder about how each visit to your Toronto Zoo can be filled with special moments, and something new!”
Bactrian camels are remarkable animals - easily recognized by their two humps which store fat to help them survive extreme environments. Native to the deserts of Central Asia, they are built to withstand both the scorching heat and freezing cold.
While Bactrian camels are domesticated, their wild counterparts face serious challenges. The wild camel (Camelus ferus) is listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered, with fewer than 950 camels remaining in remote regions of Mongolia and China.
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Moments like this highlight the importance of wildlife conservation and the role accredited zoos and conservation organizations like your Toronto Zoo play in protecting species like the Bactrian camel for future generations.
Watch for camel baby and mom updates on our social media, including when you’ll have a chance to see this long-legged little bundle of joy!
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The Toronto Zoo’s mission is to connect people, animals, conservation science and traditional knowledge to fight extinction and our vision is a world where people, wildlife and wild spaces thrive.
An iconic tourist attraction and Conservation organization, the Toronto Zoo boasts a number of leading programs for helping wildlife and their natural habitats – from species reintroduction to reproductive research. A world-class educational centre for people of all ages, the Toronto Zoo is open every day including December 25 and attracts approximately 1.3 million guests each year.
Toronto Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Zoo has also achieved the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) Certificate of Good Animal Practice® and is inspected by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA).
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