According to today’s ABC Online:
The commercial camel industry is hopeful the development of overseas markets will reduce the rate of expansion in the wild herd.
Environmental concern is mounting over the impact of central Australia’s burgeoning camel population with numbers increasing by up to 100,000 a year.
Central Australian Camel Industry Association spokesman Peter Siedel says in the long term they hope to send 25,000 camels a year to Muslim markets overseas.
“They’re nearly all Muslim markets throughout the world but we’re finding health-conscious people, the restaurant trade and even supermarket trade in places like Europe and US are looking for alternate meats,” he said.
Plans are also under way for an abattoir that can handle camels.
The camel industry also says the higher deck height on some live export ships will encourage the export of more live camels.
But Mr Siedel says it is likely culling will be needed in the short term.
“If we can achieve that 25,000 per annum deduction from the feral herd, that will bring it back almost to the status quo, so you’ll halt the increase,” he said.
“The problem will still be there but it won’t be doubling every eight to 10 years.”
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.
Reminds me of 1979 when I was sent east from Mundiwindi to check out a photofeature in the Gibson Desert.
Finally arrrived at the location (without GPS mind you), identified the photofeature as an old sand-dune, only to have the bejeesus frightened out of me by one stroppy bull camel who was seriously indignant that I entered his “domain”.
Why would anyone want to eat one of them unless famine is your lot.
Check out Queensland Country Life 15/12/05 (p9&p78)on the recent auction of 93 Camels at Rockhampton. Over 200 people attended with top price of $1500 for cow and calf with average price of $1000.
Most buyers bought camels for weed eradication and, given that bulls only averaged $556 each, breeding purposes. Weeds targeted include, lantana, prickly pear and rubber vine.