Knowsley Safari has welcomed two new Bactrian camel calves to its family. Proud mother Patricia has given birth to George, while fellow mother Willow has welcomed her new calf, Gilbert. The duo are now part of what is quickly becoming the 'camel crèche' on Knowsley's 5-mile Safari Drive.
Bactrian camels are best known for their two humps, which store fat rather than water. Each of the calves' double humps will eventually provide them with fat storage that can be converted into energy. George and Gilbert have been enjoying exploring their surroundings together while staying close to their mothers. Visitors to Knowsley Safari may witness the camel mothers Patricia and Willow 'vocalising' with their calves to maintain contact, a key part of their bonding process.
Lindsay Banks, ungulates team manager at Knowsley Safari, expressed her delight: 'We haven't had a camel calf at Knowsley Safari for over nine years, so to have two born so close together has been extra special. It's been so enjoyable to see the two healthy camel calves out enjoying the Safari, interacting with other members of the herd, as well as spending time together.'
Knowsley Safari supports the conservation of critically endangered wild camels, a different species from the Bactrian camel. It is estimated that only around 1,000 wild camels remain, spread between China and Mongolia. Knowsley Safari supports The Wild Camel Protection Foundation to help conserve this amazing species.
In February, just two months after the birth of female rhino calf Kamari, the safari announced the birth of a male Southern White Rhino calf. The calf, named Stanley, is the fourth to be born at the Safari in just four years. Stanley honours the historic family name of the Earl and Countess of Derby, owners of Knowsley Estate in Prescot, home of Knowsley Safari. He has joined the 10-strong rhino crash, one of the largest in the UK, which includes three-month-old Kamari; female rhino Bindi, born in February 2024; and Amara, also female, born in October 2022.
