Fact Check: No — Camel Tears Are Not a Proven Antidote for Snakebites

Have scientists proved that one drop of a camel's tears can neutralize venom from 26 snakebites? No. That viral claim exaggerates and misrepresents preliminary laboratory research. While researchers are exploring antibodies from camelid species (such as camels, alpacas and llamas) as potential sources for antivenom, current studies are early, laboratory-based, and have not demonstrated a ready-to-use treatment for humans.

Origin Of The Claim

The assertion began in a Nov. 28, 2025 Bluesky post on the account @pleasebegneiss.bsky.social. The post claimed:

"One drop of camels tears contains potent antibodies strong enough to neutralize venom from 26 deadly snakes, a breakthrough discovery in anti-venom science."

The post provided no links to peer-reviewed papers, no data, and no expert commentary to substantiate that sweeping statement.

What Scientists Actually Found

Lead Stories and other fact-checkers traced the idea to laboratory research published in 2025 that examined antibodies produced by immunized camelid species. Those studies showed promising results in mice, indicating that certain engineered or harvested antibodies can reduce venom damage in controlled experiments. However, these experiments were conducted in the lab and in animals, not in humans.

Expert Context

Kim Aldy, an emergency physician and toxicologist at Baylor Medical Center and Program Director at the American College of Medical Toxicology, explained that a camel or other animal that has not been deliberately exposed to venom will not naturally carry protective anti-venom antibodies. As Aldy put it:

"A camel that has not been exposed to snake venom will not have antibodies against snake venom. So the claim being circulated is out of context."

Aldy and other experts note the established method for producing many antivenoms: animals (historically horses or sheep, and more recently including camelids) are immunized with small, controlled doses of venom so they produce antibodies. Those antibodies are then collected — typically from blood — purified and processed into antivenom products. While antibodies can sometimes be detected in other bodily fluids (like tears), the research under discussion used lab-derived antibodies from immunized animals, not naturally shed tears from unexposed camels.

Why The Viral Claim Is Misleading

• The viral post omits that antibodies must come from animals deliberately immunized with venom; an unexposed camel would not have them.
• Laboratory results in mice do not equal proven effectiveness or safety in humans.
• Antivenom products require rigorous processing, standardization, dosing studies and clinical trials before they can be used in people.

Bottom Line

Current research into camelid-derived antibodies offers promising avenues for developing more heat-stable or broadly effective antivenoms, particularly for resource-limited regions. However, the specific claim that a natural drop of camel tears can neutralize venom from 26 deadly snakes is unsupported by the evidence and should be considered false.