Where the latest technologies and modern machines are powerless, pack animals still pass, like many centuries ago. People use them to transport goods, move to them themselves. They confidently pass through the dragging sands of deserts and dangerous mountain paths, without requiring oil control, tank refill and constant technical inspection. These patient workers will be discussed.
Camel
In terms of its strength and amazing capabilities, the camel is certainly the leader in the list of "pack animals". He, like no other animal, is able to stay without water for a long time and eat only passing cacti during the transition - scarce and low-calorie food, carrying up to 200 kg of weight. Surprisingly, with such a load, in an unbearable heat, almost without water, a camel travels an hour to four (or even more) kilometers. This pack animal is popular in Africa, Asia, Afghanistan. It is reliably known that camels were also used in military actions. So, in India, the British were supposed to have 2 thousand camels for a composition of two thousand soldiers and fifty officers, and in Algeria, the French relied on a group of pack animals in the amount of 2 thousand goals for moving chiefs, officers and accompanying persons (400 people) and transportation cargo. Pack transport was very important in the famous Akhal-Tekinsky expedition (1880).
Loshak mule
These four-legged helpers are able to lift up to 190 kg, but they only move close distances. Usually these pack animals carry 50-60 kg (loshak - twice as much). They are very appreciated in mountainous areas when you have to move goods, following stony and narrow paths.
Both mules and hinnies do not need frequent stops and long breaks. At the same time, they do not refuse the simplest feed. If absolutely necessary, they can overcome up to 70 km per day.
A donkey
The severity of the goods he lifts is inferior to the
lifting force of a camel or hinnies (up to 50 kg). But he is strong, tireless, has the right tread (does not stumble even on difficult paths). The speed of a donkey with bales is not more than 5 km per hour (up to 40 km per day).
Pack horse
She is able to go wherever the conductor (person) goes. Pack horses differ from sled horses in that they are shorter (about one and a half meters), have a deep chest, a long body, a strong back and a wide lower back. Legs are dry, with hard hooves. Previously, pack horses were divided into artillery and conventional freight. The first type was used to pull
heavy equipment and had to be tight, with short legs, with a straight short back. Light suits (gray, white) were not used. For these purposes, only mature animals, from four years old, were selected. To transport the guns harnessed four of these horses. Cargo horses carried up to 80 kg.
Pack bull
It is used less often than other pack animals. Despite its power and impressive size, it carries less weight than could be done, for example, by a donkey (maximum 50 kg). In addition, its speed is also small. At an o'clock it passes only 3 km. At the same time, a pack bull is more whimsical, requires an abundance of grass and water along the way.
Elephant
Belongs to the largest pack animals. Most often, in the role of a truck, it can be seen in Indochina or India. He can carry a load of five hundred kilograms. However, elephants are extremely demanding on food, and in connection with the tendency to colds, they need constant careful care.