'Hump day' made for a fitting debut of baby camel

At 110 pounds, he's a little heavy for a cradle, but Brookfield Zoo's latest baby still passes the cute test.

The zoo's 3-week old Bactrian camel made its first public appearance on the weekend, officials announced Wednesday.

Covered in soft, fluffy gray hair, the young male was a little unsteady on his feet but made up for that in feistiness, zoo spokesman Sondra Katzen said.

"He's just been exploring his yard and getting acclimated to his surroundings," she said.

"We recently introduced him to other three females in the herd -- two don't like him and the other is tolerating him. But he's very spunky, he'll go near one of them and then go back to Mom. She's very protective."

The calf's mother, Zhana, gave birth after a 13-month gestation. This is the 12th Bactrian camel to be born at Brookfield since the species was introduced there in 1937.

Bactrian camels are native to Mongolia and China and are accustomed to harsh weather. Eventually the calf will grow a tougher, second coat.

That means snow forecast for today will be "perfect weather" for the camel, Katzen said.

It's likely a name will be chosen by a donor, officials said.