Animal-Assisted Services (AAS) have shown well-documented benefits for human physical, emotional, and cognitive health. Species like dogs, sheep, goat, donkey, lama/alpaca and horses dominate the field but recently people suggested that dromedaries and camels should also be used. Is this a valid and realistic proposition ?
In my opinion the idea of using dromedaries/camels in AAS is naïve.
People proposing the use of dromedaries/camels in AAS should be aware that :
1. male dromedaries/camels exhibit a seasonal "musth" a period of heightened aggression and sexual arousal. During such period males are dangerous to humans. Therefore, only females or castrate animals may be used for AAS
2. dromedaries/camels can still bite and since they possess canines and sharp incisors, they may cause severe injuries (camel bites often target the person head)
3. adult dromedaries/camels are heavy animals often over 500 kg, they may cause injuries if leaning on a person trapped against a barrier
4. dromedaries in ALL middle east countries, and many other countries are known carriers of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) (https://www.fao.org/animal-health/situation-updates/mers-coronavirus) a virus that in humans has a high mortality rate ( https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/middle-east-respiratory-syndrome-coronavirus-mers-cov-situation-update )
5. dromedary and camels in EU/US are expensive livestock with a price for adult animals in the range of several thousand euros/$
In conclusion dromedary and camels can obviously still participate in local events or be kept as profitable farming livestock, but I believe they are not suitable livestock for AAS. There are much cheaper and easier livestock species to use as a tool for interventions to improve motor coordination, emotional regulation, and cognitive functions, of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders.
Hi, I agree with you Maurizio. Camels are not the best candidates for these activities despite evident qualities. For sure all animals with calm temperament and no abnormal fear of human could be adapted to Animal mediation but for security reason, smaller animals (small camelids like alpaga by example) are much more adapted than biggest ones (But attention is required because even a Lama could became nervous and difficult to manage by his breeder in some cases). For sure also, non castrated male are to avoid especially in presence of other animals and in the sexual period where aggressiveness and dominance increases.
Nevertheless, we found now more and more AAS made with horses with a nice success and dromedary camels could be compared to such big ungulates in temperament but also in size, weight and risk of crush or biting and therefore used in the same way but exclusively outside with valid persons able to move in case of abrupt reaction (I saw personally a very gentle mare bitten by a horsefly that kicked violently and seriously injured its owner and a person with Down syndrome who took pleasure and comfort in sticking close to the animal). In conclusion, calm temperament and love for human could make big camelids good candidates for AAS but size and always possible abrupt reaction remain possible with deleterious consequences and should be managed with a lot of precautions and only with valid and mobile patient to minimize risks. Thanks for the question
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