The massive population of outback camels is gradually being reduced. While camels are one of the creatures that grey nomads travelling Australia enjoy spotting, they are also causing significant environmental damage and occasionally come into collision with vehicles in remote areas.
New data indicates that more than 100,000 feral camels have now been culled under the Australian Feral Camel Management Project. The outback camel population is estimated by some to be in excess of one million.
Federal Government contractor Ninti One Limited says the congregation of camels due to the drier weather has enabled it to aerial cull in larger numbers. However, with current funding ending in December 2013, managing director Jan Ferguson told the ABC that $4-$5 million a year will be needed to keep the camel population under control.
“This project was always about 18 environmental assets, so it was a contained subset of the 3.3 million square kilometres,” she said. “What we’re doing beyond this is suggesting that you actually move out in a radius covering bigger distances, working across a broader landscape, otherwise those animals are just going to come back in.”
Do you enjoy seeing camels in the outback? Have you ever had or nearly had a collision? Do you agree with the cull? Email us here with your views on this story.
What other country would shoot to leave and rot a resource. We are rich fat and stupid here in Australia.