Camels are among the most important livestock species in arid regions globally, providing transport, milk, and meat. Their welfare is often overlooked in international frameworks, but the hundreds of millions of working and farmed camels face significant welfare challenges.
Working camel welfare is often invisible to international animal welfare attention that focuses primarily on farmed livestock in developed countries. Overloading, inadequate foot care, poor harness design causing pressure sores, and inadequate water provision during working journeys cause significant suffering for millions of animals. Female camels used for racing or milk production face reproductive exploitation similar to dairy cattle. The introduction of robot jockeys in Gulf camel racing has eliminated one major welfare abuse but other racing welfare concerns persist. Improving welfare for working camels requires engaging with communities for whom camels are economically essential and providing practical, culturally appropriate guidance on harness design, loading limits, and rest requirements.