Skip to main content

This unique 'soldier' to boost Indian Army patrolling in the cold desert of Ladakh

Bactrian Camel

The Indian Army has decided to include an animal working for centuries in these adverse environmental conditions to patrol and carry goods in the cold desert of Ladakh. In Leh-based DRDO's Institute of Defence Institute for High Altitude Research (DIHAR), local two hump camels, Bactrian Camels, are being prepared for the Army. DIHAR officials say that Bactrian Camel is working brilliantly in the environment of Ladakh.

Bactrian camels have been joining caravans from China, Tibet, Mongolia to Central Asia for centuries, crossing cold deserts and ice. Bactrian camel has been showcased in many artifacts of Central Asia in the third century.

Bactrian Camel Italian traveler and businessman Marco Polo traveled on the Silk Route several times from 1271 to 1295. Marco Polo introduced Europe to Bactrian Camel. The Indian Army is currently training Bactrian camels with common camels at DIHAR's lab in Leh, and the results are very encouraging. DIHAR scientist Sarangi says that this camel can travel up to 12 km at a time with a weight of 170 kg at an altitude of 17000 feet. Bactrian camel can live for a week without water and a month without food. They can move comfortably on snow and sand as their hoofs are strong and wide.


Could relax in the cold and hot sun Bactrian camel has been a favorite companion of travelers and caravans in these areas for centuries because it can live comfortably in temperatures ranging from minus 40 degrees to 40 degrees. Its height is much less than the common camel but due to its strong body, it is almost equal in weight. It has long hair on its body which gives it protection from cold. There are two sets of eyelids in its eyes, protect it from damaged caused due to sand or snow. The army finds it very difficult to cross the wide sandy plains of Ladakh and the snow-covered pass.

Especially in eastern Ladakh, there are many such large sandy plains. In such a situation, the use of Bactrian Camel for patrolling or carrying goods will be very helpful. The army has expressed satisfaction over the initial trials and very soon Bactrian Camel will take the field to support the soldiers.

Source




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Navy Chief to be the Reviewing Officer for passing out parade of 140th NDA batch

This will be the third occasion when the prestigious Passing Out Parade is being held under the shadow of COVID-19 pandemic. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh will be the Reviewing Officer for the ceremonial Passing Out Parade of the 140th batch of the National Defence Academy (NDA) , which will be held on Saturday when over 300 cadets will pass out of the academy after three years of rigorous training. Every year, two batches of cadets pass out from India’s premier tri-services military academy which based at Khadakwasla in Pune to continue with the one more year of pre-commissioning training at the academies of their respective forces –– Indian Military Academy in Dehradun for Army, Air Force Academy in Dundigal and and Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala. This will be the third occasion when the prestigious Passing Out Parade is being held under the shadow of COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony will be held with strict COVID appropriate norms in place. Officials confirmed that Ad

Ramsar Sites in India

Ramsar Sites are the wetlands that have international importance. The term was coined when the International Treaty for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wetlands was signed at a city of Iran called Ramsar in 1971 . Ramsar Sites in India Ramsar Sites in India – Latest Addition The following sites have been added as the recognized Ramsar Sites in India: Maharashtra – Lonar Lake Agra (Uttar Pradesh) – Sur Sarovar also called, Keetham Lake Uttarakhand – Asan Barrage Bihar – Kanwar Lake or Kabal Taal Facts about Ramsar Sites & Indian Wetlands: Other Interesting Facts about the Ramsar sites: Ramsar sites are one of the major protected areas in the world. There are currently over 2400 Ramsar sites in the world covering an area of 2.5 million sq. kilometres. World’s First Ramsar site was identified in 1974, which was the Cobourg Peninsula in Australia. The United Kingdom has the world’s largest number of Ramsar sites i.e 175. February 2 is celebrated as International Wetlands Day

India’s Missile Systems - Ballistic Missile vs. Cruise Missile

Ballistic Missile vs. Cruise Missile The terms ‘ballistic missile’ and ‘cruise missile’ appear in news articles wherever there is a missile test. It is  essential for us to understand these terms to understand various Indian missile defence systems  (Representative image) Ballistic Missile A ballistic missile follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver one or more warheads on a predetermined target. A ballistic trajectory is the path of an object that is launched but has no active propulsion during its actual flight   (these weapons are guided only during relatively brief periods of flight). Consequently, the trajectory is fully determined by a given initial velocity, effects of gravity, air resistance, and  motion of the earth (Coriolis Force). Shorter range ballistic missiles stay within the Earth’s atmosphere. Image Credits: Wikipedia Longer-ranged intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), are launched on a sub-orbital flight trajectory and spend  most of their flight out of the a