Showing posts with label animal cruelty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label animal cruelty. Show all posts

Friday, May 19, 2023

S.O.S. please help the animals in Sudan and Sara Abdalla, director of zoo at Khartoum University

NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: Well done Samy for reporting on animals in need. I hope the report is followed up on with news of how the animals in Khartoum are surviving. Are they being cared for? Does anyone care?  


At the start of the Sudan crisis I donated to the British Red Cross to help the people of Sudan and South Sudan. I wish Red Cross could help animals too.


Report from Chronograph.com

By SAMY MAGDY, Associated Press

Wednesday 10 May 2023

Updated: May 10, 2023 4:06 a.m.


Fears over scores of zoo animals caught in Sudan crossfire


ASWAN, Egypt (AP) — Dozens of zoo animals in Sudan's capital — including an elderly crocodile, parrots and giant lizards — are feared dead after street battles between the country's rival forces made the location unreachable.


At least 100 animals, all kept inside enclosures, will have gone more than three weeks without food or water, said Sara Abdalla, the head zoologist at the zoo, which is part of the Sudan Natural History Museum.


Millions of people in Sudan have endured shortages of food, water and medicines after the conflict halted the most basic services. But as the sounds of explosions ring across the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, Abdalla has been wracked with worry over her animal charges, particularly those that are increasingly rare to find in their natural habitats in Sudan. 


“I feel a great deal of misery and sadness, as well as helplessness,” she said in a telephone interview from Khartoum. “I have assumed that we lost the birds and mammals.”


The zoo is home to species including an African grey parrot, a vervet monkey, giant lizards known as Nile monitors, a desert tortoise, a horned viper snake and a Nubian spitting cobra. Prior to the fighting, these were all fed twice a day. But the last time they received their meals and for some, medications, was on April 14, the day before fighting broke out, according to Abdalla.


The conflict, which capped months of tensions between Sudan’s rival generals, pits the Sudanese military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, who is the head of the ruling sovereign council, against the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The RSF is commanded by Burhan’s deputy on the council, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Abdalla said neither has heeded appeals to allow access to the zoo.


The conflict has turned much of Khartoum and the adjacent city of Omdurman into a battlefield, with both sides using heavy weapons, including artillery and airstrikes, inside urban areas. The urban combat has badly damaged infrastructure and properties and poses great risk to civilians trying to move in the city streets.


Residents fleeing the capital have described seeing bodies littering sidewalks and central squares, particularly in areas not far from the museum. Roughly 500 civilians have been killed in the fighting so far, according to Sudan's doctors' syndicate, though the true number of dead is believed to be higher.


The zoo, which is housed inside the University of Khartoum, is one of the oldest in Sudan. The facility was established about a century ago as part of Gordon Memorial College, an educational institution built in the early 1900s when Sudan was a part of the British empire. It was annexed to the University of Khartoum two years after Sudan won independence in 1956.


Its current location is close to the military’s headquarters, where fighting has been heavy, preventing access to the museum.


Abdalla, who teaches zoology at the University of Khartoum, began working at the museum in 2006, and was appointed director of the facility in 2020. It was a job she had dreamed of since she visited the museum as a child. Now, trapped at her home in southern Khartoum with her husband and their two children — 9-year-old Yara, and 4-year-old Mohamed — she worries about the animals that have already survived years of unrest, economic collapse and pandemic lockdowns.


Neither the military nor the RSF responded to requests for comment on the plight of the animals and their caretakers.


“Unless someone released the animals early on when the clashes started, I don’t see how any would or could have survived for over two weeks with no care,” said Kamal M. Ibrahim, a biology professor at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale in an email. He is familiar with the museum and its work, having graduated from the University of Khartoum and spending a sabbatical there.


The museum documents the wildlife of Sudan and its neighbor South Sudan. The facility serves both scientists and the general public. It also contains hundreds of valuable preserved animal specimens, some of which are now extinct, according to Abdalla.


Both Ibrahim and Abdalla are particularly worried about a Nile crocodile, raised from an egg at the facility since 1971. Abdalla said the crocodile was on a regimen of medicine and vitamins due advanced age. The crocodiles are increasingly rare to find in the Blue and White Nile rivers that cut their way through the country.


“It could have fared better if released from its enclosure,” Ibrahim said.

In this undated photo released by Sara Abdalla, director of the zoological park at the University of Khartoum, a vervet monkey is pictured inside its enclosure in Khartoum, Sudan. The animal is one of dozens feared dead or missing inside the park in Sudan's capital after intense fighting made the location unreachable. (Sara Abdalla via AP AP

In this undated photo released by Sara Abdalla, director of the zoological park at the University of Khartoum, a Nile crocodile is pictured inside its enclosure in Khartoum, Sudan. The 50-year-old reptile was raised in captivity from an egg, and is one of dozens feared dead or missing inside the park in Sudan's capital after intense fighting made the location unreachable. (Sara Abdalla via AP) AP

In this undated photo released by Sara Abdalla, director of the zoological park at the University of Khartoum, a Nubian spitting cobra is pictured inside its enclosure in Khartoum, Sudan. The animal is one of dozens feared dead or missing inside the park in Sudan's capital after intense fighting made the location unreachable. (Sara Abdalla via AP) AP

In this undated photo released by Sara Abdalla, director of the zoological park at the University of Khartoum, a carpet viper is pictured inside its enclosure in Khartoum, Sudan. The animal is one of dozens feared dead or missing inside the park in Sudan's capital after intense fighting made the location unreachable. (Sara Abdalla via AP) AP

In this undated photo released by Sara Abdalla, director of the zoological park at the University of Khartoum, a Nile monitor lizard is pictured inside its enclosure in Khartoum, Sudan. The animal is one of dozens feared dead or missing inside the park in Sudan's capital after intense fighting made the location unreachable. (Sara Abdalla via AP) AP


View original: https://www.chron.com/news/world/article/fears-over-scores-of-zoo-animals-caught-in-sudan-18090097.php


[Ends]

Monday, March 30, 2020

Sudan: 0smano & Four Paws update from Khartoum #SudanAnimalRescue #SaveSudanLions #اسود_حديقة_القرشي

Photo credit: 
Osmano instagram 21 Feb 2020 - Lion cub from a zoo in Khartoum

Copy of instagram by Osmano in Khartoum, Sudan 03 Feb 2020:
Another day of amazing work by the dedicated and caring @four_paws_international team. The team spent the day at Sudan University Vetinary college which is within Kukoo Zoo. They carried out theoretical training as well as alot of hands on practical training for the students and staff of the University. Procedures were done on a lion cub (umbilical cord infection), monkey (fracture), crane and other bird. Once again there dedication and care leaves us speachless. Would like to thank the University, especially Dr Hind for all the help in organising and help in getting equipment out of airport for them.
Team work makes the dream work! 
📸 Four Paws International © | Marion Lombard @_rapaper_
#SudanAnimalRescue
#SaveSudanLions
#اسود_حديقة_القرشي
[ Sudan Watch Ed: to visit the above instagram with photos click here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8zPCYmn73t/ ]
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Photo credit: 
Osmano instagram 21 Feb 2020 - Four Paws' vet treating bird in Khartoum

Copy of instagram by Four Paws in Khartoum, Sudan 03 Feb 2020:
🔻🇸🇩🔻#SaveSudanLions 🦁: Another daily update from Sudan 
Here is another look at the current mission in Sudan. Besides Kandaka and Mansour, the two other lions, a male and a female, have received special care from our emergency team on-site. Since these two lions arrived in Al Qurashi Family Park Zoo only two months ago, they are in much better condition than Kandaka and Mansour. Still, the female already has bowel issues due to the improper feeding. The two lions, as well as the other animals on-site, are receiving species-appropriate food and medical attention.
Please keep the animals in your thoughts and support the mission team on-site http://bit.ly/sudan-lions [LINK IN BIO]

[ Sudan Watch Ed: to visit the above instagram with video click here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B8G3kfAiqGB/ ]
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Photo credit: 
Osmano instagram 21 Feb 2020 - Four Paws' vet treating monkey in Khartoum

Photo credit: 
Osmano instagram 21 Feb 2020 - Four Paws' vet visiting Khartoum

Photo credit: 
Osmano instagram 21 Feb 2020 - Four Paws' vet visiting Khartoum

Photo credit: 
Osmano instagram 21 Feb 2020 - Four Paws' vet visiting Khartoum

RELATED STORY
Sudan: International help for starving lions in Khartoum zoo - Osman Salih's story goes viral
Sudan Watch - 20 Feb 2020

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Sudan: International help for starving lions in Khartoum zoo - Osman Salih's story goes viral

Sudan's starving lions 'getting help'
Getty Images
Photos of starving lions at the Sudanese zoo shocked people

The starving lions in a zoo in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, whose photos caused an online outcry earlier this week, are now getting treatment, news agency Reuters reports.

A plea from the Sudan Wildlife Research Centre (SWRC), and an online campaign, have resulted in help arriving for the malnourished lions, it says.

One of the lions died earlier this week.

Conservationists from SWRC say the lions belong to a rare subspecies that are only found in areas near Sudan and Ethiopia.

It is unclear how many lions are left in the wild in Sudan.

Sudan is in the middle of an economic crisis which has led to soaring food prices and a shortage of foreign currency.

[Sudan Watch editor: Apologies to the author of the above report, I got so upset and distracted reading it, I mislaid its date and hyperlink. I'm guessing the report is from the BBC's file of Animal Cruelty reports]
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International help for starving lions in Sudan zoo
Report from BBC News - www.bbc.co.uk
Written by MARY HARPER, Africa editor, BBC World Service
Published 27 January 2020 at 17:08

A team of wildlife conservationists has flown to Sudan to look after four starving lions in a zoo in the capital Khartoum.

The animals went hungry during the months of political and economic turmoil last year. They lost as much as two-thirds of their body weight.

A lioness at the zoo died from dehydration last week, despite receiving intravenous fluids.

The conservationists say their first priority is to provide food and medical care for the lions. They will then look for a long-term solution.
Photo: Four Paws animal welfare group
There has been widespread concern about the plight of the lions
[Sudan Watch Ed: Apologies to the author of above report, I was so shocked and upset reading it I mislaid its hyperlink]
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Sudan lions: outpouring of support for emaciated cats after viral campaign
Report from The National - www.thenational.ae 
Published 29 January 2020

When images of the starving lions circulated online, many in Khartoum stepped in to offer donations – despite poverty, food insecurity and unemployment being widespread
Photo: A team of international wildlife conservationists from Four Paws organisation examine one of the fours starving and sick lions at a zoo in the Sudanese capital on January 27, 2020 where a lioness died last week. Months of political and economic turmoil that rocked Sudan from late 2018 severely damaged the health of the lions faced with shortages of food and medicine. Al-Qureshi Park is run by Khartoum municipality but funded partly by private donations, which have dried up due to the economic crisis that sparked nationwide protests though much of last year. / AFP / ASHRAF SHAZLY
Help has finally arrived for four starving lions in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum after images went viral online showing the emaciated big cats.

The predicament of the lions first came to local and international attention when a Khartoum software engineer, Osman Salih, visited Al Qureshi park and posted images of the starving cats.

"It's so upsetting. These lions have been suffering for so long," Mr Salih told AFP.

Subsequent images, including video clips, also posted online showed them walking with extreme difficulty with flies swarming over open wounds. All the lions had protruding bones.

The park is run by the Khartoum municipality and officials there said the animals were left to starve because of lack of resources. They added that the chaos and violence that swept the Sudanese capital during months of street protests that began in December 2018 against the 29-year rule of dictator Omar Al Bashir, who was removed by the military in April, contributed to the decline in their condition.

The images prompted many in Khartoum to rush to the rescue of the animals. An online campaign with the hashtag #SudanAnimalRescue [ https://twitter.com/hashtag/SudanAnimalRescue?src=hashtag_click and  https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/sudananimalrescue/ and #SaveSudanLions https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaveSudanLions?src=hashtag_clickproduced generous donations of meat and medicine and drew attention to the unrelated danger faced by the African lion.

“Lots of fresh meat was brought by several donors as well as two sheep,” Mr Salih wrote on Facebook last week. “Supply of regular meat from factories and slaughterhouses was also secured.”

On Monday, a rapid response team of wildlife conservationists from the Vienna-based Four Paws flew into Khartoum to treat the animals, but it was too late for a lioness that died last week from dehydration and starvation even though local veterinaries tried to save her with intravenous fluids.

"It's now important to improve the conditions of the animals... and the next step is to find a long-term solution," Amir Khalil of Four Paws told AFP.

Mr Khalil said carrying out tests on the animals would not be easy. "It's very difficult to approach the animals and very risky," he said. Mr Khalil was quoted by The Associated Press on Tuesday as saying two of the four surviving lions were in “critical condition” having lost a third of their weight.

“Their muscles are not even able to move. I don’t know how we will be able to do injections,” he said.

"The animals are very weak at this moment, so moving them won't be the best thing," said Juno Van Zon, another member of the team.

"I think for now we have to focus on getting the animals healthy and also to train the people."

Sudan’s wildlife has greatly suffered from the country’s near-constant civil wars since independence in 1956, especially decades of conflict in southern Sudan. The fighting forced a significant number of animals to escape to neighbouring countries in search of safety.

The tragedy of the Khartoum lions, meanwhile, has come to world attention at a time when the African lion is thought by conservationists to be “vulnerable,” with an estimated 20,000 of them left in the entire continent. That figure underlines a staggering decline of 43 per cent in the period between 1994 and 2014, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Humans are not doing much better in Sudan, a vast Afro-Arab country that, beside civil wars, has suffered a series of famines since the 1980s. The United Nations says that of a population of some 43 million people, 9.3 million – 23 per cent of the population – will need humanitarian assistance in 2020.

Throughout Sudan, said the UN, 58 per cent of households cannot afford basic daily food basket and over 2.7 million children suffer from acute malnutrition.

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UPDATE - 11 February 2020 ❤️❤️❤️
Look who is feeling better!
To see a heartwarming collage of lion Kandaka's 'before and after' photos click here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8cbWcrpiAu/

With thanks to @Osmano [ https://www.instagram.com/0smano/ ]
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Sudan: The Forgotten Lions
NOTE from Sudan Watch editor: I have used 'Google translate' to copy the following report, originally written in German, in English. To view a video of the poor forgotten lions in Sudan click here: https://www.daserste.de/information/politik-weltgeschehen/weltspiegel/sendung/sudan-vergessene-loewen-100.html 

News report from Das Erste - www.daserste.de
Author: Daniel Hechler/ARD Studio Cairo
Published 16 February 2020 8:27 PM
Title: Sudan: The Forgotten Lions

She was just a shadow of herself. Skin and bones after weeks without food. Today Kendaka is back on her feet. Still weak and thin, almost blind. But back in life and full of curiosity. A fighter. Even if there remain scars that tell of their suffering.

He saved them. Osman Sali strolls through a park in Khartoum in mid-January, discovering this creepy mini-zoo in a corner. Wild animals crammed together on a few square meters, without any care. Hyenas, eagles, lizards and also five lions. Three of them completely exhausted. Kendaka seems doomed. Osman is stunned.

"You couldn't see any fat, you couldn't see any more muscles. She was a skeleton on the ground, couldn't move. The cage was extremely dirty. It was sad to see them like this," says Osman Sali, an IT specialist.

Osman confronts the operator of the zoo. He reacts coolly. He ran out of food. Finally, everyone would suffer in Sudan. For the 35-year-old family man, nothing more than a stupid excuse, as he tells us.

"It's not fair to say that. Unlike humans, the lions are trapped in a cage. You can't go out, ask for help, shop, don't even go begging in the street," says Osman Sali.

Animals become a symbol of suffering and hunger in Sudan

At home, the IT specialist reaches into the buttons and uploads the photos. His wife and children are also shocked. Together they want to save the lions. Somehow. On Facebook, his post sparked outrage. Hundreds of comments in a few hours. The animals become a symbol of suffering and hunger in Sudan. 

But also for the determination to fight against not leaving them alone. "I was overwhelmed. I couldn't handle the pressure. It was just too much news. I had to turn my phone on silently because it rang all the time and I wanted to focus on solving the problem," says Osman Sali.

It will be hectic days for Osman. He commutes through Khartoum, organizes food, medicines, contacts the government, animal welfare organizations and experiences enormous helpfulness. Despite poverty, hardship and shortage in Sudan. The economic crisis is paralysing the country. Miles of queues in front of the petrol stations, the gasoline is scarce. There are also shortages of medicines, jobs, prospects.

"I have to take a taxi from morning to evening to make ends meet and put some money aside for my wedding," says Kassem Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, a taxi driver.

Everyone wants to help the lions

It is the legacy of 30 years of dictatorship and nepotism. The people have brought down the regime. After months of mass protests. The military and the opposition have agreed on a joint government and a roadmap for new elections. "I love my country very much. And I really hope that things will get better now," Osman Sali hopes. However, not much has been said for people about change. They have to queue for bread, often for hours. Money is running out, prices are rising. And yet many are finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. 

"I'm optimistic. When people stand together, good things come into being. Our country has abundant natural resources. Three rivers, fertile soil. This will enable us to provide for the whole of Sudan," says Hamdi Abdel Kader.

Pride, solidarity, confidence. They also feel this in the zoo. According to Osman's posts, meat and food pile up there. Volunteers prepare special food for the emaciated lions. Minced meat, cat food, vitamins, proteins, antibiotics. 

Teamwork with Happy End

Amir Khalid from the organization 'Four Paws' offers help, flies in from Vienna. The veterinarian specialises in emergency operations. But he has never experienced one in 30 years. First, the Egyptian is skeptical whether the lions can survive. Gradually, however, they gain confidence, take on food and develop magnificently.

"They lost almost two-thirds of their body weight at that time, the chance of survival was zero percent. I'm so happy, it's 90 percent now, the muscles are very good, the immune system. I'm happy, it was a team effort. Especially the lions themselves, they want to live," says Amir Khalid, a veterinarian.

A team effort with a happy ending. And a proof of humanity also towards animals, as Amir Khalid and Osman Sali believe. 

"I am so relieved, grateful, happy with what we have achieved. She finally looks like a lioness again," says Osman Sali.

The government now wants to make a site at the gates of the capital available for the animals. Appropriate with plenty of spout. Osman and Dr. Amir are impressed by the plans. Everyone is pulling together now. It's a story that gives hope to the lions, but also to the whole country. A country in transition.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Sudan: Disgusting! Barbaric camel herders! This is animal cruelty! Why is this allowed to happen??

Published: 13 July 2019 13:18
1k shares. 62 comments

Sudan's camel trade industry has remained steady part despite the nation's recent political upheaval that saw Omar al-Bashir ousted after three decades of ruling the country with an iron fist.

Traders from across African nation descend daily on the El Molih camel market, in the city of Omdurman, west of the capital Khartoum, to buy and sell herds of the desert animal.  

Some camels are sent to slaughter houses for meat, while superior breeds are exported to Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates to take part in multi-million pound races. 
Camel traders from across Sudan descend daily on the El Molih camel market, in the city of Omdurman, west of the capital Khartoum, to buy and sell herds of the desert animal. 

Transporting the animal is a difficult task for the traders who have to use a mobile crane to move them on to trucks.

Photographs for a recent market day shows camels being harnessed to a crane with its front and hind legs bound to restrict its movement.

The desert animals are then carefully lifted to the back of rigs bound for Egypt, Israel or Gulf nations. 
The camel's legs are bound together to restrict its movement while it is being lifted up by a crane that is moving it to the back of a truck
The desert animals are then carefully lifted to the back of rigs bound for Egypt, Israel or Gulf nations
The price of each camel depends on what purpose the animal is sold for. Some camels are sent to slaughter houses for meat 
A camel sold for meat can be sold between 60,000 to 90,000 Sudanese pounds (£1,058 to £1,587)

The price of each camel depends on what purpose the animal is sold for.
A camel sold for meat can be sold between 60,000 to 90,000 Sudanese pounds (£1,058 to £1,587).

But the camels destined for racing in the Gulf nations can be sold for as much as 1.5 million Sudanese pounds (£26,447) each. 
Superior camel breeds are exported to Gulf countries such as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates to take part in multi-million pound races
Camels destined for racing in the Gulf nations can be sold for as much as 1.5 million Sudanese pounds (£26,447) each
In this image a herder tends to a camel with its legs bound, ready to be board to the back of a truck after being sold 
A camel is pictured sitting on its bound legs as another camel behind it growls at one of the herders as it is being lifted by the crane
Herders pictured here adjust the harness straps around a camel before it is lifted on to the back of a truck

Following al-Bashir's ousting in April, many camel traders have been oblivious to the country's biggest political upheaval in decades.

Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed, a camel seller, said: 'With or without Bashir, this country is just the same for us.' 
'All we are interested in is whether the price of livestock goes up or down,' he added.
In this image a herder (pictured in the centre) ducks for cover as a grumpy camel fights the crane lifting it up in the air, while another camel tries to buck its legs  
A herder watches on as another angry camel tries to fight the crane as it lifts it up in the air to be boarded on the back of a truck 
A camel tries to free itself despite its legs being bound

Ali Habiballah, 52, another camel trader, said: 'What protests? We have all that we need in the desert -- water, food and livestock, we don't have any demands.' 

His son added: 'We don't care about politics. I don't even go to Khartoum.'

Sudan was first rocked by a political crisis since December 19, when protests erupted against the tripling of bread prices by the then government of Bashir.
A camel trader sits on the hump of a sitting camel at El-Molih camel market
Seven camels are on show by this trader looking to sell the herd
[End of article]

THE MAJORITY OF THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS POSTED AT THE ABOVE U.K. ARTICLE ONLINE ARE FROM THE U.K.

- Feel really sorry for some of those camels, some very underweight and visible scars. It must be frustrating for them to have their legs tied up and made to stay in that position unable to escape their situation and no food or water. Then to be lifted up like that must be very frightening and stressful, poor animals.

- Horrible people. Animal abuse is sin.
- Poor creatures.

- That's cruel breaks my heart.

- Grumpy? The animals would be distressed and terrified. These people are impervious to the feelings of animals, they always have been.

- Most of those poor wretched creatures will be slaughter in the most inhumane way, camel meat is common in that part of the world.

- Dont get the hump. Thats pretty awfully considering thier horrible fate. Scummers.

- They will be slaughtered for food the ritual Halal way. ...they will suffer more fear & pain..

- This makes me so sad. We are the most horrible creatures on the planet.

- Indeed we are.

- Look at the way their legs are tied. You'd complain, too if someone all but hog tied you. Poor things.

- Trussed up like a dead turkey and then craned onto a lorry I'd be pi ssed off too!

- That's So Cruel. Those creatures are so beautiful. That picture broke my heart. It looked so painful too 

- The way we treat animals on this earth is appalling. Re: dog meat festival (story I could not read), bull fighting, rhinoceros poaching, etc.

- The way they treat human beings why would anyone expect anything different for camels?

- This awful practice and bad animal treatment in general often governs the camel trade. The animals are can be obstinate and mean spirited; theyre strong and have lots of endurance, so theyre hard to *govern.*. Theyre seen as commodities like our pickup trucks, so the cranes seem like the right thing to resort to. This is a country where male overseers use whips on women farm workers if theyre perceived to be picking too slowly. I think the camels got the better deal.

- Ever heard of a ramp? They could have walked onto the truck themselves.

- Deplorable.

- Grumpy? Might have something to do with having their legs tied. Or just being starved and tortured in general. I might be a tad grumpy myself.

- I have a feeling this animal will be extinct soon, this is cruel.
- This is barbaric! Horrific treatment, it makes me sick.
- Notice ALL THE SCARS on these animals...they have really been through it! Poor things!

- These people have ZERO respect for Animals, women and children...abusing all. It's so disgusting.

- These animals take 2 hours to die when ritually slaughtered.

- They have no feelings for animals ...if the animals can't work or be eaten they have no use for them.

- This is disgusting. Please dont use these camel rides. You are contributing to their cruelty.

- Poor poor creatures - I cannot believe the DM can make light of this with a bad pun for a headline? You should be ashamed of yourselves.

- Camels are awesome gifts from God that are a benefit to the people. 

- This is horrific and not a joking matter DM. Those poor camels. It's abuse. Change the headline. It's not funny.

- Disgusting! This is animal cruelty, plain and simple!

- Why is this allowed to happen??

- Animal cruelty alive and well all around the world. Disgusting.

- Poor camels! I'm not surprised that they look so unhappy, tied up then thrown about like rubbish. These are living creatures for god sake!! :(

- Heartbreaking. Animal cruelty makes my blood boil.

- Is this supposed to be a funny article?? Some of those animals look underfed and ab.used. The only animals in the pictures are the handlers. Too many outdated articles by the Mail in recent days. Did they pull this article from the 80s archive?

- Seen what happens to them and it's awful.

- This is horrible. PLEASE if anyone does go abroad for any reason, NEVER ride camels or elephants or any other tourist animal transport like donkeys, asses or mules etc.. These animals are rarely looked after, cruelly treated with beatings and often deprived of sufficient medical care, food and water. Just use your feet or hire something with wheels not legs. There is no excuse these days, in the age of the internet where such cruel practices can be easily be researched, to ride living transport in ignorance of the truth. Never go to other entertainments involving use of animals either (e.g, circuses, races or elephant polo etc.) or give money to anyone using an animal as a prop to beg either (e.g, snake charmers, harnessed monkeys etc.) The more you do your bit to stop fuelling this industry the more likely the locals will need to make their money differently.

- Absolutely disgusting those poor animals!

- Thats awful! Poor camel looks in great distress.

- The straps are evenly spreading the weight out. These camels are fine.

- I imagine that's rather painful & frightening to those poor camels. Get it together people!

- Send peta over there see how they do compared to protesting chicken plants If no one caught it those are going to food processing.

- Poor things.

- Mobile crane? Your lack of knowledge and good journalism astounds me. Free lesson: it's a loader with a fork attachment.

- The media celebrates this atrocious behavior.

- This is horrific. They aren't "grumpy", they are terrified!!!!
- Poor animals.

- They are not grumpy they are terrified, why report it this way? Just plain cruelty and abuse

- Feel really sorry for some of those camels, some very underweight and visible scars. It must be frustrating for them to have their legs tied up and made to stay in that position unable to escape their situation and no food or water. Then to be lifted up like that must be very frightening and stressful, poor animals.

- You'd never ever get away with treating farm animals like that here (although God knows they did long enough in UK and IRL)(live exports a total disgrace as well). Don't know why we tolerate it elsewhere in countries with whom we do biz.

- DO NOT be so nave, farm animals are treated appallingly her and everywhere else !!!

- This is awful!

- Dreadful cruelty. Poor camels!

- That's terrible poor things.

- Cruel practice.

- Camel doesn't look too happy.

- So much suffering !