Report: Camels in Dunhuang not being abused

Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring Scenic Spot in Dunhuang, Gansu province, denied online rumors that some camels died of exhaustion and rejected allegations of camel mistreatment, according to a report by chinanews.com.

The scenic area, renowned for its enchanting sand dunes and picturesque crescent-shaped oasis, attracts many tourists. Recently, online videos showing camels collapsing on the ground went viral, sparking concerns about the animals' welfare.

The camels in the scenic spot are owned and raised by local households. The animals serve as their the main source of income. The scenic spot has taken measures to ensure the well-being of the camels, implementing shift breaks and vowing to penalize anyone found mistreating the animals, chinanews.com reported.

An employee of the Dunhuang city bureau of culture and tourism was quoted as saying the camel-riding service at the scenic spot had been suspended a day earlier, but it was not because camels were exhausted. The specific reason was still being verified, according to the employee, who was not named.

Camel rides in the scenic area have now resumed for tourists, the employee was quoted as saying.

"It is not true, as some online videos claimed, that many camels collapsed and died because of exhaustion. Some of the videos were actually not shot in Dunhuang, and we have sought help from local cyberspace administrations and relevant departments," the employee added.

The number of visitors per day can be as high as 30,000. The majority of tourists who come to the scenic spot would like to ride camels, but only about 1,000 camels are available.

Experts said the camels' behavior — for example, rolling on the ground — might be caused by the hot weather and sweating. Rubbing on the ground is normal and doesn't mean that the camels are physically exhausted, they said.