Camel bites and tramples worker to death after punching animal in face at Russian children’s holiday camp
- A camel in Siberia killed a man after punching him in the face at a holiday camp
- The man was taken to hospital in Omsk after several bites but did not survive
An angry camel bit and trampled a man to death at a children’s holiday camp in Siberia, Russia.
The keeper, 51, punched the ‘peaceful’ camel in the face, taunting the animal.
A local report said “the animal did not appreciate such treatment”, and the camel retaliated by biting the man repeatedly.
The victim was taken to a nearby hospital in Omsk, but it was not possible to save her.
An angry camel bit and trampled a man to death at a children’s holiday camp in Siberia, Russia. A still from video of the incident shows the keeper, 51, punching the ‘peaceful’ camel in the face
Shocking video shows the moment the 51-year-old caretaker was bitten and trampled to death by an angry camel, in Omsk, Russia
A local report said ‘the animal did not appreciate such treatment’ after the man punched it. The enraged camel retaliated by biting the man multiple times
Two-humped Bactrian camels can grow to over seven feet tall (standing on all four legs) and weigh up to 1,800 pounds (816 kg).
Prosecutors are investigating whether the camel was legally allowed to be held at the children’s camp.
Omsk fell to around 15.8°F (9°C) at the time of the incident.
Bactrian camels live in the rocky deserts of Central and East Asia and are adapted to deal with extreme temperatures, with a thick, shaggy coat that sheds during the summer months.
Wild Bactrian camels have become critically endangered, with populations declining rapidly over the past 60 years due to hunting and habitat loss.
Fewer than 1,000 still live in the wild today.
The former Soviet Union offered state subsidies to camel herders in Russia in the 20th century, but uses for the animal have since dried up.
Camels have found new roles in entertainment, with camel racing becoming “an obsession” in parts of Russia.
The Soviets also used this sturdy animal in the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II, transporting ammunition, fuel and wounded soldiers over long distances.
The man kicked the camel after pulling hard on its reins, reports say
Camels in Russia today often face a life of misery in circus roles or being abandoned.
In 2018 the MailOnline followed prosecutors as they investigated a zoo accused of animal abuse in western Russia.
A camel was pictured motionless on the tarmac in scorching heat while bears and lions lay cramped in cages.
Vladimir Putin signed the “Responsible Animal Treatment Act” in 2018, banning petting zoos from operating in shopping malls, as well as housing animals in bars and restaurants.
State-funded television network RT reported that it would make life harder for semi-legal circuses across Russia to use animals, including camels.
The scope of the law covers the use of animals for cultural and entertainment purposes and the cruel treatment of animals, including beatings.
In July 2020, Russians were too scared to leave their homes after a herd of 80 camels ‘overran’ three villages and wreaked havoc.
A resident said at the time, “If you look one directly in the eye […] the animal is chasing you and you have to run away.
Earlier that year, a rogue camel was accused of 40-minute delays in southern Russia.
Volga Railways expressed concern that more and more wild and domestic animals roam the tracks.
