Following objections by animal rights activists over camels being used for a joy ride in Panambur beach, officials of Panambur Beach Tourism and Development Project sent them back to Rajasthan on Sunday, reported Bangalore Mirror.

Yathish Baikampady, chief executive officer of the Panambur Beach Tourism and Development Project said, “We have taken a commitment from their caretakers that they will not be slaughtered but taken back to their native land. The camels were at the beach for the past eight years.”

Advocate and trustee of Animal Care Trust, Suma Nayak said, “A student brought to my notice that there were camels on the beach. The High Court of Karnataka has banned camels in the state. The weather condition prevailing here does not suit them. We spoke to the caretakers, who hail from Rajasthan and are very poor, to take them back to their hometown. We then got in touch with the owner, based in Pune, who came down to Mangaluru within a week. He told us that for three generations, they were using animals for joyride and that they had seven camels in Pune too."

The camels did not have a doctor's certificate nor any performing animals licence from the Animal Welfare Board of India.

However, Yatish said that the beach tourism department was not aware of the HC ruling. They have also asked the caretakers to clean the dung or deposit Rs 5000 that would be paid to the cleaners.

“We understand that it is a matter of livelihood, but these camels are far away from the desert and living in a humid climate. This could reduce their lifespan. Moreover, we noticed that cattle food was being served to them,” said Suma.