Camel cruelty video goes viral

MUSCAT: A video of a camel with its legs tied being forcibly thrown out of a braking pickup truck is going viral across Oman, prompting warnings from animal welfare groups to respect animals.

The short clip, apparently shot in Oman, shows a pickup truck with a camel on the flatbed in rear, reversing along a beach as someone films it.

The driver of the truck brakes suddenly, and the camel is flung from the rear of the truck into the sand. It cannot save itself as its legs are tied with rope, a common practice in Oman to ensure camels cannot wander too far from where their owner puts them.

The camel flies off the back of the truck and hits the earth with a bump, so forcefully that the animal cannot prevent its head from slamming into the sand. The video has been shared widely on social media sites across Oman. One resident said: “It looks like an Omani licence plate but it is hard to see the actual number. I wish I could, I would report them for cruelty.

“This is just so cruel. People should respect all animals, especially camels, which have such a special place in the hearts of Omanis.”

Jaison Mathai is the founder of animal welfare group Tiger by the Tail, which looks after homeless and abandoned animals on Oman’s streets.

“This was not an accident, but instead an incident of someone reversing the vehicle too quickly,” he revealed.

“Unfortunately, it looks like this was done on purpose, and it is very sad to see that there are some people who would do such things. Firstly, the tailgate of the pickup truck was left open, and the animal’s legs were tied so it could not save itself. This is a very sad situation.

“It is very important for us that we treat animals just as we would treat each other,” added Mathai.