The number of Bactrian camels in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has recently risen to 80,000 as a result of improved protection measures, Xinhua News Agency reports.

The Bactrian camel has been domesticated by mankind for more than one thousand years and is a protected species under the nation's genetic resources protection program.

The number of Bactrian camel decreased rapidly decreased from 260,000 to just 50,000 since the 1990s due to worsened ecological environment and overgrazing.

(CRI September 5, 2008)