Help End the Abuse: Tourists Must Say No to Camel Rides in Morocco
Morocco’s deserts promise enchantment—golden dunes, ancient cities, and the allure of tradition. But one experience, marketed as “authentic” and “cultural,” comes at a devastating cost: camel rides.
Behind the filtered photos and travel brochures lies a brutal reality. These majestic animals are suffering in silence.
The Hidden Cruelty Behind the Experience
A PETA Asia investigation into Morocco’s tourism industry reveals a pattern of systemic abuse. Camels used for rides are viciously beaten, tied up with ropes only a few feet long, and left exposed to extreme heat and sandstorms without shelter. When they’re no longer profitable, they’re slaughtered or sold for meat.
Operators in Marrakech, Merzouga, and Sahara desert camps force camels to haul tourists for hours under the blazing sun. Some muzzle the animals to prevent resistance. One video shows a camel tied and repeatedly beaten with a long stick as it struggles to avoid the blows.
This isn’t a rare exception—it’s the norm. And tourists, often unaware, become complicit.
Camels Are Not Props—They Are Sentient Beings
Camels are intelligent, social creatures. In the wild, they live in herds, communicate through body language and vocalizations, and even blow gently on each other’s faces as a sign of affection. But in the tourism industry, they are reduced to commodities—used, abused, and discarded.
This is not culture. It’s cruelty dressed as entertainment.
What You Can Do
Refuse to ride camels or any animals used for entertainment.
Educate fellow travelers—share the truth behind the photo ops.
Support ethical tourism that respects all beings, not just human comfort.
Ethical Travel Is Possible
Morocco offers rich culture, breathtaking landscapes, and unforgettable hospitality. You don’t need to ride a suffering animal to experience its magic. Choose compassion over cruelty. Let your journey be one that uplifts—not one that exploits. Refuse the ride. Share the truth. And stand with those who have no voice.
You can help end this.
This pattern of abuse isn’t limited to Morocco. PETA entities have documented similar cruelty in Egypt, where camels and horses are beaten, denied water and shade, and discarded when no longer profitable.
Take 10 seconds to help camels by signing PETA’s action alert. Your voice matters. Every signature sends a message to tour operators, travel platforms, and governments: animal cruelty is not a tourist attraction.