Full maturity at 5 years. Copulation takes place lying down. The life span may be 50 years. Dromedary camels are important as beasts of burden but are also valued for their meat, wool, and milk. The milk produced by camels is often the main source of nourishment for the desert nomads of the western Sahara.
White camels are a rare, prized, and valuable possession.
The hump is made of stored fat from the food obtained in plentiful times. During drought, the hump may shrink and lop to one side. When food and water are again available, the hump will rapidly swell and return to its normal size.