Study finds food rewards can improve camel transport welfare

A new study led by animal welfare researcher Barbara Padalino found that dromedary camels can be trained to load and unload for transport using food rewards and clicker-based positive reinforcement, rather than physical punishment such as whipping, shouting, or shackling. In the 2026 Animals paper, 12 camels on a mixed-use farm underwent nine days of training after an initial assessment day. Eight successfully self-loaded and self-unloaded at least once, and the researchers reported that the animals learned the process without signs of fear or distress, using eye-temperature monitoring as a stress indicator. The work was conducted by researchers from Southern Cross University, the University of Bologna, and Bahauddin Zakariya University. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the study adds species-specific evidence that low-stress handling can be applied to camels during one of the highest-risk parts of transport: loading and unloading. That matters not only for welfare, but also for handler safety, transport efficiency, and potentially meat quality after slaughter. It also lands in a broader context where camel welfare research is growing, but published reviews note that formal welfare protections and regulations for dromedary camels remain limited in many countries. (scu.edu.au)

What to watch: Whether the training approach moves from a small research setting into commercial transport protocols, handler education programs, and camel welfare standards in major production regions. (scu.edu.au)