Horrific treatment of horses and camels at Egyptian tourist spots revealed

The footage showed camels being abused at a popular market. Photo / PETA Asia

WARNING: Distressing

PETA has released horrifying footage of "weak, wounded animals" it claims are being forced to carry tourists in the hot sun in Egypt.

An investigation by the Asian arm of the animal rights organisation shows horses being whipped and camels being abused at the top tourism destinations in the country, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, Saqqara, and Luxor.

PETA says its investigation shows horrific abuse of horses and camels forced to haul visitors on their backs or in carriages in blistering heat without shade, food or water, reports news.com.au.

It says eyewitnesses also documented camels being beaten at the Birqash Camel Market before being sold to the tourism industry.

Now the organisation is calling for a ban on the use of working animals at tourist sites in the country.

Horses were wounded and bloodied. Photo / PETA Asia

Video footage shows handlers in Giza "violently beating" a horse that had collapsed on its side while being forced to pull a carriage.

The horse was severely injured by the fall, but PETA says the handlers continued to beat it until the animal got back up.

It claims many horses used for rides in Giza and Luxor had painful, bloody wounds and were forced to wait in the scorching sun for the next paying customer.

"Emaciated horses whose ribs showed through their skin were repeatedly yanked and whipped," says PETA's Emily Rice.

Horses were whipped until they got back up. Photo / PETA Asia

"And at the notorious Birqash Camel Market, men and children were observed viciously beating screaming camels with sticks. Many of the animals' faces were bloody, and one camel foamed at the mouth.

"It's disgraceful that exhausted, emaciated animals in Egypt are beaten and whipped into giving endless rides in the heat, even as their legs buckle and they collapse."

The organisation is calling on the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism to replace abused animals with modern vehicles such as electric rickshaws.

It says once the camels sold at the Birqash market are no longer able to give rides around the Giza and Saqqara pyramids, they're returned to the market and sent to be slaughtered.