Working Animals

The Welfare of Camels in Working and Farming Contexts

Camels serve as essential working and farming animals across arid regions of Asia and Africa, facing welfare challenges from traditional management and intensifying commercial demands.

Key Facts

An estimated 35 million camels exist globally, mostly in Africa and Asia
Camels are used for transport, racing, milk production, and increasingly for meat
Camel racing uses child jockeys in some regions, a practice linked to child trafficking
Camel milk production is a growing global industry with limited welfare standards
Muzzling to prevent drinking during training is a common welfare-compromising practice

Welfare Considerations

Camel welfare spans traditional pastoral contexts to racing circuits and intensive dairy farms. In traditional nomadic herding, camels often experience relatively good welfare from the freedom of movement and social group integrity. Racing intensification, however, has led to welfare abuses including overworking young animals and use of coercive training. Camel dairy farming is expanding rapidly with minimal welfare framework development.

What You Can Do

Oppose camel racing events that use child jockeys or welfare-compromising training methods
Support welfare standard development in the growing camel dairy industry
Engage with tourism operators about welfare requirements for camel riding and trekking experiences
Raise awareness of camel welfare as an under-examined working animal issue