Camels are not native to Australia. Introduced in the 19th century, they have established the world’s largest feral dromedary camel population. Their presence presents unique environmental challenges across the vast arid regions of the country.
The Camel’s Arrival in Australia
Camels first arrived in Australia in 1840, with the camel named Harry reaching Port Adelaide from the Canary Islands. A larger influx followed between 1870 and 1920, importing an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 camels, primarily from British India, Afghanistan, and the Arabian Peninsula. These animals, predominantly one-humped dromedaries, were brought to Australia for specific purposes.
Camels were recognized as the most suitable mode of transport for the challenging arid interior, capable of carrying heavy loads and requiring less water than horses. They played a central role in exploration, transport, and the development of infrastructure projects. These included the Overland Telegraph Line and the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, which opened up Central Australia. Skilled handlers, often referred to as “Afghan cameleers,” accompanied these animals, establishing camel studs and operating camel trains that supplied remote stations and towns.
The Rise of Feral Camel Populations
Motorized transport in the 1920s and 1930s significantly reduced the need for camels as working animals. Many cameleers, facing declining business, released their animals into the wild, establishing Australia’s large feral camel population. These introduced camels thrived in the Australian outback due to several factors.
Australia’s arid conditions closely resemble their native desert habitats, allowing them to survive long periods without water and feed on a wide variety of vegetation. A lack of natural predators in Australia also contributed to their unchecked population growth. By 2008, the feral camel population was estimated to be around one million animals, capable of doubling in size every 8 to 10 years. Although management efforts have reduced numbers, the population stood at approximately 300,000 in 2013, still growing at about 10% annually and occupying over 3.3 million square kilometers of the mainland.
Ecological Impact and Management
Large populations of feral camels exert considerable pressure on Australia’s fragile ecosystems and infrastructure. As highly selective feeders, they consume over 80% of available plant species, damaging native vegetation, including culturally important plants for Aboriginal communities. Their presence also contributes to erosion by destabilizing dune crests and can foul waterholes important for native wildlife and human settlements, especially during droughts. Camels also damage fences and infrastructure at cattle watering points, causing economic impact to pastoralists.
Management strategies are employed to control feral camel numbers and mitigate their impacts. These include aerial culling, which involves shooting camels from helicopters, recognized as an effective method for large-scale population reduction in remote areas. Other methods include ground shooting, mustering for commercial sale, and trapping at water points. Fencing is also used to exclude camels from sensitive areas. These efforts aim to reduce their density, particularly in areas where they pose the greatest threat to environmental and cultural values.