Camels are not the biggest pest in Australia, therefore the
need for eradication (as well as being on a priority list for
culling) is no where near as urgent as the need for the
eradication of foxes, rabbits or feral cats. Nevertheless, the
camel is still an introduced species and does have an impact on
the environment. Hopefully in the near future, we will be able
to reduce the number of feral animals in Australia.
The major method for controlling this animal is to capture the
camels, attempting to tame them in order to be used as beasts of
burden, and exporting to their native homeland of the Middle
East. This is called Mustering. Mustering is also a common form
of control used on feral horses/brumbies.
Feral camels can be tamed, but with huge difficulty. Many people
do not have enough money to build facilities in which to train
the camels, and those who do, simply do not have the time,
knowledge or trained people to do this enormous task
Because the camel can be exported and used overseas as beasts of
burden or as pets, race animals or in zoos or private
collections, therefore bringing some form of profit to the
Australian Economy, there is no urgent need for controls such as
shooting, trapping or poisons..
An interesting fact is that Australia has the only wild
population of Dromedary Camels in the world. Camels are also
killed for the consumption of their flesh. This started in the
1980’s in
Alice Springs, central Australia. Camel meat may also
be used in canned dog food.
