Those two humps do not store water — a common myth! They store fat, which the camel's body can convert into energy when food is scarce. When a camel has eaten and drunk well, its humps stand up firm and tall. After a long journey with little food, they can droop to one side, looking rather floppy.
Bactrian camels can drink an extraordinary amount of water very quickly — up to 135 litres in about 13 minutes — and then go for days without drinking again. Their nostrils can seal shut to keep out sandstorms, and their thick eyelashes protect their eyes from blowing dust.
In Kazakhstan, camels have long been important working animals — carrying goods across the steppe, providing thick wool that can be spun into warm yarn, and producing rich milk that is drunk fresh or fermented. Camel racing is also a traditional competition at some festivals.
Wild Bactrian camels — a separate species from the domesticated ones — are now one of the rarest large mammals on Earth. Domesticated Bactrian camels, however, remain common across Kazakhstan and are still an important part of rural life and herding traditions.