Camels are among the most economically important animals in arid regions worldwide, yet their welfare is minimally studied. Understanding camel welfare needs improves lives for millions of animals.
Camel welfare represents a significant gap in global animal welfare attention. Approximately 35 million camels work in arid regions where they provide the primary transport, agricultural, and food resources for communities with few alternatives. Welfare problems common to working camels include overloading beyond physiological capacity, saddle sores from ill-fitting equipment, dental neglect, dehydration from inadequate water access, and harsh treatment during training. Racing camels in the Gulf region have been the subject of specific welfare campaigns, with child jockey practices replaced by robot jockeys following international pressure. General working camel welfare requires the same intervention model as donkeys and horses — education, veterinary support, and equipment improvement for owner communities.