Demand justice for the Uluru Camels

Why are we calling for welfare reform?

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, little 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Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: The Camel (“Model Code”) was written in 2006 and is extremely outdated; legalising the mistreatment of camels. As a result, camels are subjected to inhumane practices and a poor standard of living. 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: the Camel [1] 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official investigation and three separate charges being laid against the company, Uluru Camel Tours, the charges were withdrawn prior to the court trial and there were no findings against Mr Hill.

Additionally, despite having been charged by the NT Government and awaiting court to defend the charges, the alleged perpetrator and director of Uluru Camel Tours received the Brolga tourism award in late 2022 – the official Northern Territory tourism awards program. 

TRIGGER WARNING: This footage includes graphic and potentially distressing material.

Consumers are seeking higher welfare standards

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 [2]. As we have seen from overseas examples, this covert cruelty will continue to occur until the public becomes aware that it exists.

All animals exploited for tourism, deserve more than being subjected to recurring cruelty by their captors. As consumers, tourists visiting such attractions expect and deserve a higher standard of animal welfare. 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:

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 that are more in line with community expectations. Enable public input to a revised and updated Model Code for at least 4 weeks;

2. ​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;

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 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.