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Whenever
camels are being handled, and particularly during
mustering and transport of untrained camels, an
experienced operator equipped to perform humane
destruction must be available. Camels can be
euthanased by firearm or captive bolt by the
frontal or poll method or by lethal injection.
When using a firearm from in front of a camel the
aim point for the frontal method is a point where
two imaginary lines drawn from the base of the ears
to the opposite eyes intersect. If the operator is
standing above the head of the camel the aim point
is approx. 4 cm behind this point.
The aim point for the poll method is at the
intersection of the skull and the neck. In this
case the aim is perpendicular to the neck line. New
operators should be trained in these procedures,
initially on skulls taken from dead camels.
The use of captive-bolt pistols and the frontal
method is suitable for younger stock. For mature
bull camels and especially for bulls in rut the
captive bolt is applied to the base of the skull or
alternatively a firearm can be used. Bulls in rut
develop thick glands on the top of their head that
prevent the effective use of the captive bolt by
the frontal method.
When the animal has been stunned using a
captive-bolt pistol, as soon as it collapses to the
ground it must be either pithed or bled out by
severing the major vessels of the neck. The
operator should stand behind the neck to avoid
injury due to the animal's involuntary leg
movements.
It is recognised that exceptions to the recommended
practice may occur under extreme conditions. In
those circumstances considerations of common sense
for both animal and human welfare should
prevail.
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