James Cromwell Urges Egyptian Government to End Camel Abuse
Legendary actor and Academy Award nominee James Cromwell sent an urgent letter to Egypt’s minister of tourism and antiquities, Sherif Fathy, calling on him to take immediate action to end the widespread abuse of camels and horses who are forced to haul tourists in sweltering heat at the pyramids of Giza.
No One Wants Cruelty to Animals in Their Travel Plans
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities promised meaningful changes after a 2019 PETA Asia investigation first exposed egregious animal abuse at the country’s top tourist sites. But PETA Asia’s latest investigation documented that handlers violently whipped exhausted horses in front of the tourists they had been forced to haul in the blistering sun – with no access to food, rest, adequate shade, or proper veterinary care.
Injured and malnourished horses were seen eating from rubbish dumps, and the bodies of dead horses were found discarded at waste sites outside the pyramids of Giza every day.
“When their bodies give out, these gentle, sensitive animals are left to die and their bodies are dumped in the piles of trash just behind the pyramid complex. … [W]hile it’s encouraging to hear that at PETA’s urging, you have introduced a few electric vehicles and added some water for the animals, Egyptian authorities have chosen to shut their eyes to the extreme and obvious cruelty that horses and camels are subjected to.”
– James Cromwell
Camels Punched and Beaten With Batons
PETA’s latest video exposé revealed that market traders punched camels and beat them with batons and that one trader threw sand into a camel’s face. A dead camel was tied by their feet to a truck and dragged through the streets, and another was found dead in the middle of a road with their throat slashed open.
When camels were no longer considered useful, they were often hauled to a slaughterhouse, where their throats were slit while they were still conscious.
Join James Cromwell – Take Action for Camels
Please never ride camels. If you’re planning to visit Egypt, leave animals off your itinerary. Please also show PETA’s exposé to your friends and family.
You can also help end the suffering at the pyramids by sending a message to Egyptian officials:
