United Nations Declared 2024 The International Year Of Camelids:
The United Nations recently declared 2024 the International Year of Camelids.
- A Camelid refers to any of the even-toed ungulates of the family Camelidae. g. camels, llamas,alpacas, guanacos, and vicuñas.
- They are known for their remarkable adaptations to arid and high-altitude environments.
- These ungulates can be classified into two major groups: the Old World and the New World.
- The Old-World Camelids, found in northern Africa and central Asia are the true camels, such as the dromedary camels (one-humped camel) and the Bactrian camels (two-humped camel), characterised by:
their humps on their backs and - The dulla, which is an organ found on the throat of male camels and is believed to be associated with the display of dominance among males and for attracting females.
- The South American Camelids (New World Camelids) include the modern llamas, alpacas, guanacos, and vicuñas. Wild populations of South American Camelids, such as vicuñas, inhabit the high-altitude regions of the Andes Mountains.
