Demand justice for the Uluru Camels
The Hon. Julie Collins, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Sign the petition calling for comprehensive welfare reform and protection for the Uluru Camels
Animal Liberation’s Australian-first investigation into camel riding at Uluru Camel Tours showed wild camels captured, physically abused, psychologically ‘broken’, and forced into a life of cruel servitude for tourist rides.
Global awareness about the use and exploitation of animals in the tourism industry has rapidly increased over the past decade. Despite growing international demand for improved animal welfare and ethical tourism, in Australia, nothing has changed with the tourism industry requiring urgent and significant reform. That is why we need your help in calling on the Australian Government to urgently adopt and adhere to a higher standard of animal welfare for animals in tourism.
The current Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: The Camel (“Model Code”) was written in 2006 and is extremely outdated. For this reason, we are calling for an immediate review and rewrite of the current Model Code.
Animal Liberation's investigation into Uluru Camel Tours
An independent veterinary evaluation of Animal Liberation’s video documentation identified multiple examples of non-compliance with the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals in relation to the treatment of the Uluru Camels. This independent evaluation also identified clear violations of the animal welfare obligations outlined in the Northern Territory’s principal animal protection law at the time (the Animal Welfare Act 1999).
In early 2021, Animal Liberation submitted evidence of animal cruelty allegedly inflicted on camels by Uluru Camel Tours to the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade. Our complaint alleged that UCT was not adhering to the standards and guidelines, by seeming to deny animals food and water, castrating them without any apparent pain relief, and reportedly tethering them for days at a time. Despite an official investigation and three separate charges being laid against the company, Uluru Camel Tours, the charges were withdrawn prior to the court trial and there were no findings against Mr Hill.
Australian and international tourists risk being deceived by animal tourism operators who treat their animals poorly out of sight or behind closed doors. A study conducted by Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit in 2015 showed that on average 3 out of 4 animal-based tourism attractions in Britain involved animal mistreatment and that 80% of tourists did not perceive the mistreatment at these attractions [1]. As we have seen from overseas examples, this covert cruelty will continue to occur until the public becomes aware that it exists
Animals exploited for tourism deserve better than being treated harshly by the humans who use them. As a progressive society, we have a duty to demand the world’s best animal welfare standards within the tourism sector, which must be built upon the framework of sentience, science, and global public expectations.
By adding your name to this petition, you will be supporting our call for the Federal Government to take the following actions:
Review the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: The Camel (2006) (‘Model Code’) and work alongside distinguished veterinary professionals and animal welfare organisations to improve the standards and guidelines that are more in line with community expectations. Enable public input to a revised and updated Model Code with a 4-week period of public exhibition;
Liaise with state and territory governments, tourism suppliers, and businesses to reinforce the requirement to comply with animal welfare legislation, and to call on them to prioritise regular auditing and monitoring regimes, and more rigorous enforcement action and strong penalties for breaches;
Request the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission investigate tourism-based businesses, to ensure the public is able to make informed ethical choices and is not deceived or financially disadvantaged by misleading claims of ‘ethical’ animal tourism ventures;
Thank you for speaking up and taking direct action for Australian animals used and exploited by the tourism industry.
Sponsored by
To:
The Hon. Julie Collins, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
From:
[Your Name]
Dear Minister,
I am writing to you today in your capacity as Federal Minister for Australian Trade, Tourism and Investment, with specific responsibility for overseeing Australia’s tourism and international reputation, to urgently call for a review of the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: The Camel (2006). This call to action has come about following Animal Liberation’s exposure of and investigation into Uluru Camel Tours, Yulara, Northern Territory.
An independent veterinary evaluation of Animal Liberation’s video documentation identified multiple examples of non-compliance with the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: the Camel in relation to the alleged treatment of the Uluru Camels. This independent evaluation also identified clear violations of the animal welfare obligations outlined in the Northern Territory’s principal animal protection law at the time (the Animal Welfare Act 1999).
In early 2021, Animal Liberation submitted evidence of animal cruelty allegedly inflicted on camels by Uluru Camel Tours to the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade. Our complaint alleged that UCT was not adhering to the standards and guidelines, by seeming to deny animals food and water, castrating them without any apparent pain relief, and reportedly tethering them for days at a time. Despite an official investigation and three separate charges being laid against the company, Uluru Camel Tours, the charges were withdrawn prior to the court trial and there were no findings against Mr Hill.
Australian and international tourists risk being deceived by animal tourism operators who treat their animals poorly out of sight or behind closed doors. A study conducted by Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit in 2015 showed that on average 3 out of 4 animal-based tourism attractions in Britain involved animal mistreatment and that 80% of tourists did not perceive the mistreatment at these attractions. As we have seen from overseas examples, this covert cruelty will continue to occur until the public becomes aware that it exists.
Animals exploited for tourism deserve better than being treated harshly by the humans who use them. As a progressive society, we have a duty to demand the world’s best animal welfare standards within the tourism sector, which must be built upon the framework of sentience, science, and global public expectations.
By adding my name to this petition, I support Animal Liberation’s call for the Federal Government to take the following actions:
1. Review the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: The Camel (2006) (‘Model Code’) and work alongside distinguished veterinary professionals and animal welfare organisations to improve the standards and guidelines so they are more in line with community expectations. Enable public input to a revised and updated Model Code with a 4-week period of public exhibition;
2. Liaise with state and territory governments, tourism suppliers, and businesses to reinforce their clear obligations to ensure strict compliance with applicable animal welfare legislation, and prioritise regular auditing and monitoring regimes, and enforcement, including strong penalties for any breaches;
3. Request the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission investigate tourism-based businesses, to ensure the public is able to make informed ethical choices and is not deceived or financially disadvantaged by claims of misleading 'ethical' tourism ventures.
Yours sincerely,