This is Stropple a very large and very smelly (Dromedary) camel, his name comes from a combination of stroppy and camel. He has one hump, which is mainly made up of fat and they can live off this for several weeks or even up to six months!
Did you know – that when camels drink water they can drink up to forty gallons in one go and can smell water from quite a distance away? This does not make them very popular with Upples because they can disrupt their water supplies. They can also run at up to forty miles an hour!
Camels can also be arrogant and bad tempered, spitting at something, or someone they take a dislike to. They have three sets of eyelids to protect their eyes against sand storms and can even close their nostrils to prevent sand getting in! The thick skin on their knees allows them to kneel down on the very hot sand.
Find out how Stropple takes a liking to Itchy and would like to help him to return to Badger Wood. Setting out with his herd to distract the Upple’s where necessary or to help Itchy and his friends travel across Australia’s harsh landscape. Although Itchy isn’t keen on the camel herd he does realise that they are only trying to help, so despite the smell, Itchy is pleased the camels are on their side.
Camels in Australia
Find out more about Camels and how they arrived in Australia (Click Here)
Stropple first appears in The Heat Is On (Click on the Book 4 Tab below)