The population of dromedary camels is steadily growing worldwide and could reach 60 million within the next 25 years. The reasons lie in their diverse uses: milk, meat, wool, hides, tourism, sports, as well as their contribution to sustainability thanks to low ammonia emissions and high heat tolerance.
With rising demand, husbandry and utilization are changing – from traditional nomadic herding to more intensive production systems. At the same time, trade in live camels is increasing on local, national, and international animal markets.
Although the importance of these animals is growing, their welfare plays little to no role in many countries, particularly in agriculture and tourism. Yet health and animal welfare are closely connected: low-stress husbandry and respectful handling are crucial for disease prevention. Nevertheless, the welfare of camels continues to be widely neglected on many markets.
We have published a new dossier on this topic, which you can find here.
