The Bactrian Camel of Nubra — A Silk Road Survivor
The two-humped camels of Hunder, their caravan history and the difference between Ladakh’s domestic animals and the endangered wild camel of Central Asia.
By Stanzin Gawa
At Hunder, two-humped Bactrian camels are part of both the landscape and the local tourism economy. They are domestic Camelus bactrianus, not the wild camel Camelus ferus. Understanding that distinction matters when reading conservation claims or choosing how to visit.
Two humps adapted to a cold desert
Bactrian camels have a thick winter coat, broad feet and humps that store fat rather than water. Avoid treating a single sign, such as the angle of a hump or a patchy moulting coat, as a complete diagnosis of health. Body condition, wounds, workload, handling, shade, water and veterinary care all matter.
A connection with the caravan routes
Nubra was part of the trans-Himalayan trade network linking Leh with Central Asia. Bactrian camels carried goods on those routes. An ICAR-published 2022 study describes animals remaining in Nubra after the trade route closed around 1950. Camels were not the only transport animals used in Himalayan trade, and this history should not be simplified to an overnight closure caused by Partition.
What the population figures actually mean
The April 2022 Indian Journal of Animal Sciences study reported about 250 Bactrian camels in Nubra at that time. This is a dated estimate, not a verified 2026 census. The same study describes a government Bactrian camel farm at Chusoot near Leh, so Nubra is not the only place in India where domestic Bactrian camels occur.
Domestic camels and wild camels are different
The wild camel, Camelus ferus, survives in China and Mongolia. A 2026 Mammalian Species account reports that its IUCN category changed from Critically Endangered to Endangered in October 2025. That classification does not describe the domestic camels seen in Nubra and does not mean wild-camel conservation concerns have ended.
For Ladakh’s domestic camels, the practical concerns are animal care and sustainable livelihoods. A Government of India statement of 6 August 2025 describes veterinary services, subsidised winter feed and fodder, tagging and shearing support in Ladakh. It does not provide a new Nubra herd census.
Observe first; choose any ride carefully
- You can enjoy the dunes and observe the camels without riding.
- Avoid any activity where animals appear injured, distressed, overworked or handled roughly. A short ride is not automatically a welfare guarantee.
- Ask about workload, rest, feed, water and veterinary support; follow handler instructions and keep away from calves unless invited.
- Confirm seasonal operations locally. A winter visit does not guarantee camel rides or newborn calves.
Are Nubra’s Bactrian camels wild?
No. The camels seen in the Hunder tourism setting are domestic Camelus bactrianus. The wild camel Camelus ferus is a different species.
How many camels are in Nubra now?
We have not verified a current 2026 count. An April 2022 ICAR-published study reported about 250 at that time; do not present it as a live population figure.
Is Nubra their only location in India?
No. Hunder is a well-known visitor location, but the 2022 study also documents a government camel farm at Chusoot near Leh.
Sources and further reading
- Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, April 2022 (dated Nubra estimate and Chusoot farm)
- Mammalian Species, 2026: Camelus ferus (conservation update)
- Government of India, 6 August 2025: camel welfare measures