Camel warning for central Australia as population booms
An Alice Springs scientist has warned that stretches of central Australia could come to resemble the deserts of the Middle East, if the wild camel population is not managed properly.
Researchers and land-holders are among delegates meeting in Alice Springs to look at management options for camels.
Glenn Edwards from the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Service says Australia's camel population is increasing by up to 100,000 a year, but only about 2,000 are being used commercially.
He says it is putting a strain on the environment.
"Let's face it, the deserts we have here, we call them deserts but you know they're really paradises in some way for camels because they're quite well vegetated," he said.
"They're not like the Sahara Desert for example but if we let things go unchecked with camels, well who knows, we might be looking at true deserts at some stage down the track."
Dr Edwards says this week's meeting is one of several that will look at management options.
"The camel situation is quite a complex one," he said.
He says culling is one option but stakeholders like Indigenous communities want to avoid that.
"I think a lot of Aboriginal people are really opposed to seeing animals culled and left to waste in the field," he said.
Dr Edwards says other possible options include fencing off sensitive areas.
Previous
Index
Next
Flat
Desert Big Game Hunting - the Camel!
Edit
Reply
Quote
...
