Abstract:[Objectives] The Wild Camel Camelus ferus is listed as Class I national key protected wild animal and a critically endangered species by the IUCN. Xinjiang Lop Nur Wild Camel National Nature Reserve is the main distribution area of Wild Camels in China. Due to the extremely harsh environment, it is difficult to study the current status and dynamics of Wild Camel population. [Methods] In this study, we investigated the Wild Camel population through line transects in the protected area during 2021﹣2022. The number of adults and calves/sub-adults camels were recorded during the surveys (Fig. 1). One-way ANOVA was used to compare the average group size among different surveys. The abundance index per kilometer and the ratio of adults to calves/sub-adults over the past 20 years were compared, followed by an analysis of the changes in Wild Camel population structure. [Results] A total of 148 camels belonging to 29 populations were recorded in the 2021﹣2022 field survey (Table 1), with almost all the Wild Camels found in the gobi area north of Altun Mountains except one individual (Fig. 2), while 376 camels belonging to 94 populations recorded in the 2010﹣2013 field survey, and 91 camels belonging to 10 populations recorded in the 2003﹣2005 field survey. There was no significant difference in the average group size with more than or equal to 2 or 10 Wild Camels among the three surveys. Regarding groups with more than or equal to 10 Wild Camels, the results showed that the ratio of adults to calves/sub-adults in 2021﹣2022 and 2010﹣2013 was 3︰1, and that of Wild Camels in 2003﹣2005 was 3.6︰1 (Table 2). [Conclusion] The population structure of Wild Camels has remained stable over the past 10 years, which is healthier than it was 20 years ago. Our conclusion is also consistent with the current growth trend of Wild Camel population in the protected area. The study on the changes of Wild Camel population structure reflects the population dynamics and conservation effectiveness of Wild Camel to a certain degree, and provides scientific guidance for the population conservation and management of Wild Camel in China.
