In the lands where the camel roams, the white (albino) camel is a rare and revered individual. The White Camel Awards recognize the many significant contributions made by the unsung heros of the Perl community. The efforts of these volunteers collectively make the Perl language and the Perl community better for all of us.

The awards were initiated by Perl Mongers and O'Reilly & Associates at the 1999 Perl Conference. Today, The Perl Foundation acknowledges these exceptional individuals annually at the O'Reilly Open Source Conference.

The 2008 winners were announced at the 2008 O'Reilly Open Source Convention on July 22, 2008.