The Swiss animal protection foundation Franz Weber announced this Wednesday that it will ask the new Minister of Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, for measures to end camel rides for tourists that are still offered in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria.
"The rides on Canarian camels (dromedaries) have been the subject of significant social scrutiny after videos were released showing the completely inadequate treatment of the animals, including young ones, which has not resulted in any sanctions, reprimands or changes in the sector," the entity argues.
The Franz Weber Foundation recalls that in 2021 it already pointed out "the significant shortcomings in the welfare of camels in Lanzarote, with a strong veterinary report that warned about their living conditions, the long days of transport to which they are subjected and the incidents that occurred."
"In addition, this document detailed excessive loads of people, dangerous pressure on the joints of dromedaries during transit, as well as the harmful use of wire muzzles or the absence of water," it adds.
This environmental organization emphasizes that this activity is still offered "mainly to foreign visitors in areas especially sensitive for their conservation such as the Timanfaya National Park (Lanzarote), the Dunas de Maspalomas (Gran Canaria) or in various locations in Fuerteventura, an island declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2009."
In their opinion, allowing this business in protected areas "prioritizes the benefit of a very limited number of companies over the effective protection of areas that are very sensitive to their continuity, both in terms of biodiversity and resilience to the climate crisis."
