Welfare of Working Camels in Desert Economies

Camels are essential working animals across arid regions of Africa and Asia, yet receive little formal welfare protection and face serious husbandry challenges.

Key Facts

Over 35 million camels exist worldwide, primarily in Africa (70%) and Asia
Camels are used for transport, racing, milk, meat, and tourism across arid regions
Sarcoptic mange affects millions of working camels and causes severe skin lesions and itching if untreated
Overloading causes spinal injuries and pressure sores, particularly on the hump
Camels used in tourism are often kept in poor conditions with inadequate rest and shade
Camel racing — prevalent in the Gulf states — has historically involved child jockeys (now largely replaced by robots)
Camel milk production is growing globally, raising questions about welfare of tied or separated calves

Welfare Considerations

Camel welfare is rarely discussed in mainstream animal welfare discourse despite the millions of animals affected. Working camels face overloading, mange, dental neglect, and inadequate water in extreme heat. Tourism camels are often among the most poorly kept, subjected to continuous riding with minimal rest. Racing camels in Gulf states have improved somewhat with child jockey replacement by robotic jockeys, but training methods remain problematic in some contexts. Camel milk welfare parallels dairy cattle issues around calf separation. The remoteness of many camel-dependent communities makes welfare monitoring and intervention challenging.

What You Can Do

Avoid camel rides in tourist contexts unless welfare conditions can be verified
Support organisations providing veterinary care to working camels in Africa and Asia
Choose camel milk from producers with verified humane husbandry practices
Advocate for inclusion of camels in national animal welfare legislation in camel-dependent countries
Donate to Brooke or SPANA which work with camels among other working animals