Jarrett's Internet Bride Arrives At Twycross Zoo

By Kim Riley

Twycross, UK - “Jarrett” Twycross Zoo’s adult male camel recently lost his longtime mate “Edina” to age related complications. Over the last seven months Twycross Zoo has been searching for an ideal companion for Jarrett. Whipsnade Zoo has solved the problem by providing Georgia, an eighteen month old female, to Twycross Zoo. Georgia arrived on 26th September 2008 to fulfill the role as Jarrett’s new partner. As camels move on quite quickly, Jarrett will not mind transferring his affections to his new mate and it is hoped that they will breed in the near future.

Camel calves weigh approximately 37 kg at birth and are fully grown by the time they are 5 years old. Camels do not have humps when they are born but they develop after the first moult. The Bactrian camel’s two humps contain fat and not water. The camel can go without food and water for three to four days as it is well adapted to the desert life.

Camels are very strong mammals with wide padded feet, they have thick leathery pads which protect their knees and chest. They also have nostrils that can open and close, protecting them from the blowing sand. Their ears are lined with protective hairs and bushy eyebrows and two rows of long eyelashes protect their eyes from the harsh sand.

A camel’s mouth is extremely tough, allowing them to eat thorny desert plants. Camels are herbivores (plant-eaters); they eat grass, leaves and grains. Many camels have been domesticated and are now fed by people. Camels can drink up to 32 gallons (120 litres) of water at a time. Thick fur and under wool keep camels warm during the cold desert nights and also insulates them against the daytime heat. Bactrian camels are over 7 feet (2 m) tall at the hump and weigh in excess of 1,600 pounds (725 kg).

Twycross Zoo East Midland Zoological Society is a registered charity (No 501841) and aims to “care for our world’s animals and environments through conservation, communication and integrity”

Twycross Zoo is the most comprehensive collection of primate species and subspecies in the western world. Twycross is a popular visitor attraction for families and school children welcoming over 500,000 visitors annually. Opening times for visitors are summer 10.00 am – 5.30 pm and winter 10.00 am - 4.00 pm; the Zoo is open 364 days a year only closing Christmas Day.

Twycross has informal and formal education programmes for all sectors of society about wildlife conservation. We incorporate our animals wherever possible into regional and global breeding programmes to aid species conservation. We have developed environmental enrichment programmes to give our animals a fulfilled life, both physically and mentally.

Twycross Zoo is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and Wildlife Information Network (WIN). These organisations represent their member collections and promote the values of good zoos and aquariums.