In 1840, 20,000 camels were introduced into Australia for transportation of goods: in 2026 more than 500.000 camels are classified as pests and are suffering cruelty and exploitation (video)

Australia wake up !! 500.000 camels drink a lot of water which is very scarce in Australia  10 million  sheep were also imported. 

I must add that not all the camel 'owners' are cruel

Dromedary camels are interesting and deeply misunderstood creatures. They are naturally found roaming through Africa and Asia. In the 1840s camels were introduced into Australia, and have since established a prominent wild herd. With the cruelty associated with elephant rides coming to light in recent years, camel rides are interestingly not receiving the same attention - yet, the intelligence of camels is similar to that of elephants. This article explores the use of camels in the Australian tourism industry and the welfare issues it presents to the animals.

About Camels

Sadly, there has been minimal research into camels, their personalities and intelligence, leading to a disconnect in how we perceive them. Robyn Davidson, who spent months travelling the Australian dessert with four camels in the 1970s, has shared her insights into these wonderful creatures in her book, Tracks.

They are intelligent and emotional animals

Camels are often presented as grumpy and temperamental creatures, when in reality, they are just misunderstood. Camels are smart and have shown to have the intellect and emotional intelligence of an eight year old child [1, 2]. Both Bactrian and Dromedary camels have an encephalization quotient (EQ) value of 1.3, which is a similar level to the intelligence of the African elephant, and greater than that of the horse [3].

Robyn describes camels as “affectionate, cheeky, playful, witty, self-possessed, patient, hard-working and endlessly interesting and charming.” She noted that they also have “delicate” hearts and are highly sensitive [2].

Camels travel great distances

In the wild, camels like to stay together in herds, led by a dominate male. The remaining males form “bachelor herds”. Being nomadic animals, they spread themselves over hundreds of kilometres and can travel up to 160 km in a day. They enjoy exploring their environment and socializing with other individuals [4]. Studies have found that while they roam and feed during the day, wild dromedaries rest during the hottest hours - around noon [5].

Camels can live long lives

Camels can live for 40-50 years [6]!

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The Industry

Camels are used as a tourist attraction in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, China, Kenya, Dubai, Tanzania, and Australia. In all of these countries, there are little to no animal welfare laws or standards.

Camels in Australia

Approximately 20,000 camels were introduced to Australia between 1840 and 1907, for riding, the transportation of goods, and as draught animals (used to draw load like a plough) in the early development of arid areas. As they naturally live in arid environments and require less water, they were seen as a more suitable option than horses. When they were no longer needed, due to the increase in motor transport, people set them free. Since then, they have established a stable wild population [7 PDF]. Soon after, they were classified as a feral ‘pest’ species.

The estimated number of camels in Australia today ranges drastically from 300,000 [8] to over 1 million [7 PDF]. While few efforts have been taken to establish a more accurate count, the latter figure has driven the push for mass culls. Others saw this as an opportunity to exploit the camels, trapping and sending them to slaughter, using them in dairies for camel milk, or for rides and even racing.

Interestingly, camels are classified as a ‘pest’ due to the so-called damage they do to the environment. The impact of the estimated 1 million grazing camels, however, would be significantly less than that of the 25 million cattle and 63.7 million sheep in Australia. These farmed animals were not only introduced, but are continuously being bred, relying on cleared agricultural land and large amounts of water and resources. To learn more about these industries, read our articles on Cattle Farming and Sheep Farming.

All ferals show resilience, intelligence, self-organization, and a capacity to evade human captivity—all of the things that contradict a belief that livestock exist only to serve us, obey us. Going feral, they remind us that animals are neither machines, nor docile objects, but thinking, escaping, beings, and as such they help us to define the injustice of farming a little better. Perhaps this is why they are so hated; they are an uncomfortable reminder that animals are not “happy meat.”

Fiona Probyn-Rapsey [9 PDF]

My efforts to find a Australian Animal Welfare organisation to combine efforts with a  

Paul Watson Foundation: US: "If the ocean dies we die" the Endangered Species Committee, often called the "God Squad" are a threat to wildlife protection

 

Operation Gulf Guardians: The Fight for Rice's Whales Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Laura Dias (Permit #14450) Dear Erna,  Operation Gulf Guardians is an urgent campaign launched by the Captain Paul Watson Foundation to protect the Rice’s whale, one of the most endangered whale species on Earth. Only 50 individuals remain, and the decisions made in the next few years will determine whether this species survives or disappears forever. Through legislative advocacy, public mobilization, legal support, and direct outreach to Congress, we are fighting to secure permanent protections for the only baleen whale species that lives exclusively in U.S. waters, and to hold accountable those who would sacrifice it for short-term industrial gain.  Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Laura Dias (Permit #21938) What Are Our Goals? Operation Gulf Guardians is fighting for permanent protections for the critically endangered Rice’s whale and its habitat in the Gulf of Mexico. Our goals include: • A permanent ban on oil and gas drilling in critical Rice’s whale habitat • Full enforcement of vessel speed limits below 10 knots throughout the corridor • Restore federal protections designed to reduce risks to Rice’s whales that were removed in February 2025 (These protections, previously issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), were designed to reduce threats to Rice’s whales from offshore industrial activity) • Full designation and enforcement of critical habitat protections under the Endangered Species Act With only 50 Rice’s whales remaining, every decision matters. What Are the Obstacles? On March 31, 2026, the Trump administration convened the Endangered Species endagered species Committee, often called the “God Squad” because of its power to override the Endangered Species Act. In its first meeting in decades, the committee voted unanimously to exempt the entire Gulf oil and gas industry from ESA protections, removing mitigation requirements for all protected species in the region. The decision came despite the fact that Gulf drilling operations had never once been halted due to ESA consultation requirements. Five weeks later, the federal government announced a formal status review of the Rice’s whale that could ultimately remove the species from the endangered list entirely. This is the danger: First remove protections. Then remove the species from the list. Together, these actions leave a population of 50 whales with virtually no legal safeguards. But we have seen this before. In 1992, a similar “God Squad” exemption threatened protections for the northern spotted owl. Environmental groups challenged the decision in court, where judges later found that illegal political influence had shaped the vote. The exemption was ultimately withdrawn, and stronger protections followed. Today, multiple legal challenges to the Gulf exemption are already underway, led by Earth justice, the Southern Environmental Law Center, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Center for Biological Diversity. The fight is far from over. NOAA Fisheries (Permit #779-1633) How You Can Help The Rice’s whale status review is open for public comment until July 6, 2026. Every public comment becomes part of the official legal record that conservation attorneys can use in ongoing and future court challenges. Step 1 - Click HERE  to submit your comment. Tell NMFS what you know about the threats facing Rice's whales, including oil and gas activity, vessel strikes, the Deepwater Horizon legacy, habitat destruction, and the inadequacy of current regulatory protections. Personal statements about why you care are welcome. Scientific references, published studies, and supporting documentation strengthen the record further. That is it! Your comment becomes part of the permanent public record and must be considered by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The deadline is firm. Comments received after July 6, 2026 will not be considered for this review. Other ways to Help Click here to Call or Click here to email your federal representatives using our ready-to-use scripts. With only 50 Rice’s whales remaining, this fight is no longer theoretical. If the ocean dies, we die. That is not a slogan, it is ecology. The Rice’s whales cannot walk away from this fight. Neither can we. If you would like to support our efforts or have any questions about Operation Gulf Guardians, please email illinois@paulwatsonfoundation.org. For the Ocean, Captain Paul Watson Foundation OPERATION GULF GUARDIANS Follow us on Social Media: Our Contact Information Captain Paul Watson Foundation 201 Varick St Frnt 1 PO Box 80 NY, NY 10014 contact@paulwatsonfoundation.org https://www.paulwatsonfoundation.org/ Unsubscribe | Manage email preferences

More than 50 years Brennan's bar in LA hosted controversial turtle races and betting facilities for entertainment: The bar is closed and re-homing of the turtles is taking place

 In Defense of Animals: https://www.idausa.org/

Brennan’s Bar Racing Turtles Rescued by Freedom Farms

 - Posted by Justin Cross

TAG: animal rescue, animal rights, animal welfare, Freedom Farms, In Defense of Animals, wildlife protection

In Defense of Animals is proud to announce the rescue of nine red-eared slider turtles from the former Los Angeles bar Brennan’s, which permanently closed at the end of 2025 after decades of hosting controversial turtle races. For more than 50 years, the bar’s turtle racing events drew crowds and became part of its public identity, but animal advocates long raised concerns about the welfare and exploitation of the turtles used for entertainment. Following sustained pressure from In Defense of Animals and other animal protection organizations, the practice ultimately ended.

After Brennan’s closed, In Defense of Animals worked directly with the previous ownership to coordinate a safe rehoming plan for the turtles at Freedom Farms, the organization’s sanctuary on California’s Central Coast. The rescue marks a new chapter for these animals — one centered on safety, dignity, and compassionate care.

Freedom Farms is already home to a growing family of rescued animals, including 25 cows, five peacocks, a former racehorse, a donkey, cats, and thriving native wildlife. Now, our sanctuary staff is transforming a small pond into a carefully designed habitat where the turtles can safely bask, swim, and thrive in a peaceful natural environment with both shade and sunlight.

 

Our vision for the project goes beyond rescue alone. The future turtle habitat will also serve as an educational and reflective space for visitors, offering an opportunity to connect with these often-overlooked animals, better understand what it takes to be a responsible guardian when adopting an exotic animal, and become an ethical steward for wildlife coexistence.

While construction and habitat improvements are underway, the turtles are receiving individualized care and close monitoring in a quiet indoor setup designed to reduce stress and support their transition to sanctuary life.

Rescues like this are only possible because of compassionate supporters who believe animals deserve protection, respect, and a chance at a better life. 

If you would like to support the ongoing care of these turtles and help Freedom Farms continue creating safe havens for rescued animals, please consider donating, sponsoring an animal resident, or visiting the sanctuary to learn more about its mission. Your contribution helps provide food, habitat improvements, veterinary care, and a lifelong sanctuary for animals in need.

Learn more about the animals and the efforts we're making at our Creston-based sanctuary.