What are they?
Camels (Camelus dromedarius) were first imported from India and the Canary Islands to Australia in the 1840s as a beast of burden for exploration and development in arid areas. By the mid-1890s, more than 4500 had been introduced for use in the goldfields of Central Australia and Western Australia (DPIRD, 2023). They are declared pests under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (WA). When cars were introduced in the 1920’s many camels were released into the wild as they were no longer needed for the transportation of goods (DPIR, 2021).
There is estimated to be 300,000 feral camels in Australia with the distribution throughout central Australia (DPIRD, 2023). The Northern Territory in 2024 stated that there is over one million feral camels throughout Australia (The Territory, 2024).
They can destroy plants and infrastructure:
- Plants they can reach higher than native animals due to their height, and
- Infrastructure such as fences because they lean on them until they collapse and they will often flatten long lines of fences with no apparent motive (DPIRD, 2023).
They occupy over 37% of mainland Australia, and 40% of the Northern Territory land area (The Territory, 2024). They can travel up to 70kms per day and they are contributing to erosion as they destabilise dune crests (The Territory, 2024).
Food
Although camels can go longer periods of time without water, they will drink it when available in summer. They will sleep on the bare ground near a waterhole, and before moving off at first light, they will drink what they need (DPIRD, 2023).
A camels hump consists of stored fat and connective tissue and makes up to 20% of the animals body weight. They are terrestrial herbivores consuming: herbaceous vegetation that is high in water and salts; grasses; fruits leaves and stems of native trees such as the Native Peach or Quandong (DPIRD, 2023).
They are devasting the plumbush, Quandong, Supplejack, bean tree and curly pod wattle as they eat their way through more than 80% of available plants (The Territory, 2024).
Reproduction
Having a lifespan of 50 years, the camel can breed successfully for 30 of those years with cows (females) coming on heat several times a year. They become sexually mature around 3-4 years for females and 5-6 years for males (BQ, 2022). Gestation lasts approximately 13 months with calves birthed approximately once every two years. It is rare to birth twins. Males can come into season up to three times a year for several weeks at a time. They are very stubborn during this time and they develop large patches of tacky smelly excretion on the backs of their heads (DPIRD, 2023).
Defence Mechanisms
They have been able to adapt easily to the desert environment with their coats acting as insulation in winter and reflecting heat in summer. Their tough skin is able to withstand thorns and spinifex. They have padded feet which allows them to move easily on sand and stony downs and assists with insulating the animal from the heat of the earth. To protect them when they kneel, they have hard pads in their brisket, knees and elbows (DPIRD, 2023).
Camels have an exceptional good sense of smell and eyesight (DPIRD, 2023).
Control Measures
Without control measures, they are able to double the population size every eight years (DPIR, 2021). Primary forms of management includes: mustering, ground and aerial culling and trapping when they are at waterholes. Fences have been developed that restrict camels but allow native animals into key waterholes due to the damage the camels cause, particularly fouling (DPIR, 2021).
Camels are also used for tourism; meat and milk, and; live export.
In SA you can report sightings of feral camels on CamelScan (DPIR, 2021).
Interactions with other species
They become aggressive towards cattle and sheep and at times, prevent them from feed and water (DPIRD, 2023).
They have no known predator, but wild dogs and dingos may take baby camels.
How to identify
The species of camel found I Australia is the Arabian Camel (DPIRD, 2023). They are a dun colour or dark grey and the hump, shoulder and back of the neck is darker than the rest of the body. They can weigh between 450 and 600kgs. They shed their longer and darker winter coats in early summer (DPIRD, 2023). They have slender legs with broad toes.
Staying safe
Wild animals should not be approached unless you have specific training for that animal.
If the animal is tame, approach Calmly: Always approach camels calmly and avoid sudden movements or loud noises that could startle them.
Where are they found?
References
Business Queensland (BQ), 2022. Camel. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 April 2024, from, https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/biosecurity/animals/invasive/other/camel.
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), 2023. Feral camel. Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/pest-mammals/feral-camel.
Department of Primary Industries and Regions (DPIR), 2021. Feral camels. Government of South Australia. Retried 25 April 2024 from https://pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/introduced-pest-feral-animals/find_a_pest_animal/camels.
Hiscock, G, 2020. Australia’s wild camel dilemma: to cull or cultivate? Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 20 April 2024 from https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Life/Australia-s-wild-camel-dilemma-to-cull-or-cultivate.
The Territory, 2024. Feral camel. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 25 April 2024, from, https://nt.gov.au/environment/animals/feral-animals/feral-camel.