Parturition in the wild camel (Camelus ferus): the first in situ recorded observation

This case study presents the first documented in situ observation of parturition in the wild camel (Camelus ferus). Despite extensive research on domesticated camelids, virtually nothing is known about parturition and early maternal behaviour in their wild relatives. On 19 April 2025, a female wild camel was observed under semi-natural conditions in the buffer zone of the Great Gobi A Strictly Protected Area (Mongolia). Continuous focal sampling captured the entire birth process, including labour progression, maternal-neonatal interactions, calf standing and suckling milestones, and post-parturition protective behaviour. The dam displayed active assistance during labour, immediate postnatal contact, and strong protective instincts – guarding the calf from conspecifics as well as other species. The calf stood within 25 min and suckled within 37 min, suggesting an adaptive need for rapid mobility in an open, predator-exposed landscape. These findings confirm key reproductive traits observed in domesticated camels but also reveal behaviourally specific adaptations to wild desert environments. Given the species’ slow reproduction rate and environmental vulnerability, detailed behavioural insights from even single-case studies offer critical guidance for both in situ conservation and captive breeding protocols. Observations provide crucial insight into a previously undocumented stage of the wild camel’s life history. By comparing observed behaviour to existing domestic data, we begin to fill a key gap in the reproductive ethology of this endangered species.