Dromedary camels are essential working animals across the Middle East and Africa, but are increasingly bred for racing and subject to welfare challenges in both contexts.
Working camels face welfare challenges including overloading, poor hoof maintenance, wounds from poorly fitting saddles, and inadequate veterinary care. Dehydration during heavy work in extreme heat is a serious welfare risk. Camel racing involves intensive training and handling that may cause stress in these prey animals. Earlier use of child jockeys in Gulf racing caused serious harm to children but robot jockeys have replaced this practice. Camel beauty contests in some regions involve practices of questionable welfare impact. The illegal trade in camel meat from pastorally used animals involves long transport journeys. Climate change is affecting the pastoral systems camels are central to across the Sahel and Horn of Africa.