1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. New England Travel

Don't Hibernate! Head to Roger Williams Park Zoo

By Kim Knox Beckius, About.com

4 of 6

Ships of the Desert

Dromedary camel picture

This Dromedary camel is one of the first creatures we meet on the Marco Polo Trail.

(c) 2005 Kim Knox Beckius
Dromedary camels like the one in this photo were known as "ships of the desert" during Marco Polo's day. They were the perfect desert pack animals, able to carry 300 pounds and to journey for up to two weeks without food or water. A New England winter is nothing to these rugged creatures.

During our New Year's Day stroll along the Marco Polo Trail at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, we also saw two sleepy snow leopards, but the moon bear was nowhere to be spotted. Where animals were absent, signs often explained the temperature threshold below which the species would be off display.

4 of 6

Explore New England Travel

More from About.com

  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. New England Travel
  4. Rhode Island Travel Guide
  5. Rhode Island Attractions
  6. Dromedary Camel - Ship of the Desert - Marco Polo Trail - Roger Williams Park Zoo

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.