WORKING ANIMALS

Animal Welfare: Working Animals

GUIDANCE NOTES THE CAMP WAY

Are animals required to be ridden or carry/ pull loads?

Working animals should be fit and healthy in order to perform the job asked of them. If the animal is not capable of performing the task, this can cause lasting harm, injury and distress to both the animal and the handler. Young, pregnant, nursing, injured, ill, distressed or elderly animals are not ridden, or required to carry/pull loads. Equids (hoofed animals) are not worked before they are three years old; camels are not ridden before four years. Weaning should not be conducted for horses, donkeys and mules before six months and camels before four months but preferably this should occur naturally. CI adheres to the Donkey Sanctuary’s ‘Pack Mule Care: A leader Checklist’ that includes health and body condition checks and reporting of injuries/saddle sores. CI leaders are briefed on signs of lameness and take appropriate action where necessary. Guides should carry a first aid kit for the working animals and be trained in emergency care.

GUIDANCE NOTES THE CAMP WAY

Does the activity require the use of working animals?

Many parts of the world rely on working animals for transport, farming or as part of a tourist activity. Usually the welfare standards for these animals is poor and leads to suffering, pain and early mortality for beasts of burden. CI does not condone the riding of tame wild animals such as elephants.

CI discourages the riding or use of working domestic animals wherever possible. If this is unavoidable, best practice is met for animal welfare.

CI has signed and adheres to World Animal Protection’s ‘Protecting wild animals in tourism’ statement of commitment.

Animal Welfare: Working Animals

GUIDANCE NOTES THE CAMP WAY

Is the equipment appropriate for the animal and the task?

Inadequate or ill-fitting equipment can cause injury to working animals and may even pose a risk to the handler or volunteer. Equipment should fit, not cause injury and should be cleaned and dried after use.

Mule’s saddle blanket should sit clear of the backbone so that weight is born to either side of the mid line.

Bits should be well made, free from sharp edges and should not cause injury to the tongue, bars of the mouth or lips. Stainless steel bits should be used where available. When leading a mule, head collars are always preferable as they leave the mule free of the bit.

Equipment should be removed during rest periods and ideally when eating and drinking.

Shoes should be secure. Worn or loose shoes may be lost during the expedition leading to bruising of the foot and other problems.

Animal Welfare: Working Animals

GUIDANCE NOTES

Is the load being carried/pulled appropriate for the individual animal?

Welfare standards are often low with working animals and exhaustion through over working causes injury, pain, distress and early mortality.

THE CAMP WAY

Animals are trained and worked within their physical capabilities.

Loads are equivalent to the animal’s size and ability (e.g. not more than one person on an equine or camel and rider appropriately suited to the animal in terms of weight).

A recommended maximum weight of 80kg should be used as a working guideline for a mule. This can be varied according to terrain, distance travelled and other key variables. Extra mules should be considered for longer expeditions.

Work should not be in the hottest part of the day and animals should have regular rest periods each day of at least an hour between working periods.

Water should always be made available.

Supplementary feeding should be available.

GUIDANCE NOTES

What type of tethering system is used for the animal(s)?

The tethering system should make use of a wide, nontraumatic material that can be safely secured around the animal’s lower leg without cutting into the skin. CI insists on the use of well-made tethers made from leather or cotton. Nylon rope should never be used against the skin.

All guides and expedition leaders should be aware of this, check for open tethering wounds and insist on the use of proper equipment.

Tethering must be limited to only a few hours each day and the animal is able to walk, lie down and stand up without putting tension on the tether, and is able to access basic resources like food, water and shade. Tethered animals are regularly monitored.

THE CAMP WAY