We are in Pakistan together with Naod Masebo from the University of Bologna, investigating how the transport of camels affects animal welfare. The goal is to document the animals’ transport fitness during loading and their condition after unloading using a scientific questionnaire.
The dates for loading and transporting the camels were repeatedly postponed – but the transports eventually took place. The nomadic animal owners had been waiting for the money for their animals, and in addition, political unrest had caused the roads to the slaughterhouse near Lahore to be closed.
The camels have to travel a long distance. The small, tightly loaded trucks travel at a slow speed of about 60 km/h, and some roads are under construction, so the ride in the suspended trucks can be very rough. During the journey, the camels do not receive food, water, or bedding, but at least the transports take place at night, when it is cooler, rather than during the daytime heat.
During the second transport, we followed a truck carrying 22 camels. The animals screamed continuously while being unloaded. Some swayed on their legs and appeared dazed as they were taken off the truck – they had been tied at the front and hind legs on the bare truck floor for so long that their legs initially had no strength.
What is particularly shocking is that the stationary loading ramps present in both slaughterhouses – which are even level with the truck beds – are not properly used. On the first transport, the ramp was completely ignored, and on the second transport, the ramps did not prevent the animals from being pulled by the tail or ear, led with ropes, or kicked during unloading.
With some expertise and compassion, this could have been done much more peacefully. With patience, the animals could have been encouraged to stand on their own – and it would certainly help if the camels were not loaded so tightly together.
For the documentation of the transport, we were able to install smartphones and flashlights on the trucks. Our mission, accompanied by scientific observation, is a pilot project that will form the basis for further research into animal welfare during camel transport. This is a promising field, as it can help establish a foundation for upcoming regulations and standards.
