A camel in India has reportedly killed its owner by severing his head after being left tethered for hours in extreme heat without any water or shade.
In 2016, a camel, whose legs were bound in sweltering temperatures exceeding 120 degrees, finally lost control—transforming a hot afternoon into a tragic event that the village will remember for a long time.
This incident occurred in the Barmer district of India, a desert area notorious for its harsh climate. Reports indicate that temperatures had risen above a scorching 109 degrees Fahrenheit, leaving both people and animals struggling for relief.
However, for one unfortunate camel, there was no way out.
Tied up in the blazing sun for hours without water or shade, the animal’s patience – and possibly its spirit – eventually broke.
Distressed camel
According to the Times of India, the camel’s owner, known as Urjaram, was hosting guests indoors when he suddenly recalled that his animal was left outside, tied up and vulnerable under the relentless sun.
Witnesses reported that the camel appeared visibly distressed, pacing and growling – a chilling sign of what was about to happen.
When Urjaram finally went to untie the animal, the camel exploded in a fit of rage that astonished everyone.
Revenge
What transpired was nothing less than horrific.
Witnesses recounted the terrifying moment when the camel charged, seized Urjaram by the neck, and hurled him to the ground.
“The creature lifted him by the neck and tossed him onto the ground, gnawed at the body, and decapitated him,” a local shared with the publication about the animal, which reportedly bit into the man’s body multiple times, even severing his head in front of shocked villagers.
However, the brutality didn’t stop there. The camel persisted in its frenzy, refusing to settle down. It took 25 villagers nearly six hours to finally subdue the agitated animal, employing ropes and a truck to pull it away from what remained of Urjaram.
What makes this situation even more unsettling is that several locals asserted this wasn’t the first encounter between the two. According to them, there had been a long-standing conflict between the owner and the camel – a storm waiting to erupt.
Gentle giants
Although camels are typically regarded as gentle giants – appreciated for their loyalty, endurance, and capacity to survive in harsh desert environments – this tragedy has ignited a serious discussion about animal welfare and human accountability.
Experts caution that while camels are usually tame, they can become dangerously erratic when mistreated or pushed beyond their limits.
Crushing Strength
Animal behavior experts have noted that even though camels may seem relaxed, they are actually very strong animals.
Weighing as much as 2,200 pounds and equipped with powerful jaws and lethal kicks that can hit in any direction, camels – both Bactrian (with two humps) and dromedary (with one hump) – are not harmless when provoked.
A camel specialist shared with the Sun: “An adult camel can fit your head, arm, leg, or torso in its mouth. They possess enough strength to crush limbs and even your neck, while kicking both forwards and backwards.
“Camels will combine all these actions while kneeling forward to crush you.”
Camels Fight Back
While camel attacks are uncommon, there have been reports from around the world, including a recent incident in 2023 where a Bactrian camel retaliated against its owner after the owner struck the “peaceful” animal in the face while pulling hard on its rein.
According to the Sun, the camel trampled its owner to death at a children’s holiday camp in Siberia.
“The animal did not appreciate such treatment,” a local report stated, as per the Sun.
In March 2022, two men attempting to capture a camel that had escaped from a petting zoo were cornered and killed by the animal. The camel even tried to attack police as they loaded the injured men into an ambulance.
Before that shocking event, another camel charged at the owner of a wildlife sanctuary in Mexico.
“The camel kicked and bit him nearly to death, and when he was almost dead, he sat on him,” reported the Sun about Richard Mileski, 60. “Between the blows and the weight of the camel on top of him, he was asphyxiated.”
These accounts serve as a harsh reminder that animals, regardless of how domesticated they appear, have their limits. Treat them with kindness and respect, and you’ll receive the same in return!
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