A camel is basically 

A large domesticated ruminant

With a humped back

Large neck

And cushioned feet

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They are really two species

The dromedary of Arabia

With a single hump

And the Bactrian camel

With two humps

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The dromedary camel resides

Mainly in the Middle East 

And on the Indian subcontinent

While Bactrian lives in Central 

And East Asia

Some are part of a wild population

In the Gobi Desert in China and Mongolia

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A camel can go for hours without water

Is known as the ship of the desert

Drinks about 40 gallons at a time

Lives about 45 years

And today, like in the days of the Greeks 

Is used as a beast of burden

And as part of a camel cavalry

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During the recent Arab spring in Egypt

TV pictures showed camel riders

Charging demonstrators

As they rode six to seven feet

Off the ground on camels

To run  and beat them down

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

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Since the days of the Greeks

People have savored camel milk

Made camel cheese

And feasted on camel meat 

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