Pack animal
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A pack animal, also known as a sumpter animal or beast of burden, is a working animal used to transport goods or materials by carrying them, usually on its back.
Domestic animals of many species are used in this way, among them alpacas, Bactrian camels, donkeys, dromedaries, gayal, goats, horses, llamas, mules, reindeer, water buffaloes and yaks.
Diversity
Traditional pack animals include ungulates such as camels,[1] the domestic yak, reindeer, goats,[2] water buffaloes, and llama, and domesticated members of the horse family including horses, donkeys, and mules.[3] Occasionally, dogs can be used to carry small loads.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Pack animals by region
- Arctic – reindeer and sled dogs
- Central Africa and Southern Africa – oxen, mules, donkeys
- Eurasia – donkeys, oxen, horses, mules
- North America – horses, mules, donkeys, goats
- North Africa and Middle East – dromedaries, horses, donkeys, mules, oxen
- Oceania – donkeys, horses, dromedaries, mules, oxen
- South America – llamas, donkeys, mules
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Pack llama, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
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Pack water buffalo, Sumbawa, Indonesia, early 20th century
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Pack donkeys, Devon, England, c. 1906
Uses
Hauling of goods in wagons with horses and oxen gradually displaced the use of packhorses, which had been important until the Middle Ages, by the sixteenth century.[4]
Pack animals may be fitted with pack saddles and may also carry saddlebags. Alternatively, a pair of weighted materials (often placed symmetrically) are called panniers.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
While traditional usage of pack animals by nomadic tribespeople is declining, a new market is growing in the tourist expeditions industry in regions such as the High Atlas mountains of Morocco, allowing visitors the comfort of backpacking with animals.[3] The use of pack animals "is considered a valid means of viewing and experiencing" some National Parks in America, subject to guidelines and closed areas.[5]
In the 21st century, special forces have received guidance on the use of horses, mules, llamas, camels, dogs, and elephants as pack animals.[6]
Load carrying capacity
The maximum load for a camel is roughly Script error: No such module "convert"..[7]
Yaks are loaded differently according to region. In Sichuan, Script error: No such module "convert". is carried for Script error: No such module "convert". in 6 hours. In Qinghai, at Script error: No such module "convert". altitude, packs of up to Script error: No such module "convert". are routinely carried, while up to Script error: No such module "convert". is carried by the heaviest steers for short periods.[8]
Llamas can carry roughly a quarter of their body weight, so an adult male of Script error: No such module "convert". can carry some Script error: No such module "convert"..Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Loads for equids are disputed. The US Army specifies a maximum of 20 percent of body weight for mules walking up to Script error: No such module "convert". a day in mountains, giving a load of up to about Script error: No such module "convert".. However an 1867 text mentioned a load of up to Script error: No such module "convert".. In India, the prevention of cruelty rules (1965) limit mules to Script error: No such module "convert". and ponies to Script error: No such module "convert"..[9]
Reindeer can carry up to Script error: No such module "convert". for a prolonged period in mountains.[10]
See also
References
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External links
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- Llama Backpacking Script error: No such module "webarchive". Documentary produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting
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