6,000 Camels to be Shot to Death in “Humane” Aerial Cull
Thousands of feral camels, in search of water, are reportedly wreaking havoc on the small Australian town of Docker River. The dromedaries are destroying property and infrastructure and have reportedly overtaken the airstrip. Some of the thirsty camels have been killed in stampedes at watering holes, contaminating the town’s water supply. Authorities call the situation critical.
Camels were brought to Australia in the 1880s and used for transportation and exploration purposes. Over the years, the camel population exploded. With no natural predators, it is estimated nearly 1 million feral camels now roam the deserts. Today, they are considered a pest and cause an estimated $14 million in damage each year.
If the cull moves forward, between 3,000 and 6,000 wild camels will be killed. Thousands of wild camels will be corralled by helicopters, miles from town, and then shot to death by marksmen. The carcasses will be left to decompose in the desert.
According to marksman Kim Schwartzkopff, the cull program is humane, “They’re actually humanely shot and they’re ensured that they are dead before we leave.” While some believe shooting the wild camels is the most effective method in controlling the out-of-control camel population, others disagree. In fact, the plan has outraged some. Described as a “blood bath” by animal welfare group Animals Australia, some believe the mass aerial slaughter will cause terrible distress and suffering to the camels.
The emergency cull, funded by the Northern Territory Government, is expected to last several days.
Camels photo by Adrian Pingstone
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Im ashamed to be Australian.
Thoroughly disgusting decision. People caused the “problem” and as usual, the animals suffer, when in fact it is PEOPLE who have ruined the environment, not the camels or the kangaroos.
My first reaction is that this it is an over-reaction, which is too late. These things should not be allowed to get so bad, and then have a bad “solution” inauguerated. Why is all that good meat wasted ?
A similar “cull” has happened in Sweden ? – but with a non-native species of Rabbit. Again the food-value is used as fuel in some power-plant. It is the same bunch of morons as allways seem to “come to our rescue”. The “leave this to us” brigade. Someone pays them well and undoubtedly with your money. Yet another off-shoot of “it” creates “Windfarms” for our delight – never saying that the things provide, in their entire life – only a fraction of the energy required to replace them, which in fact comes from all the sources which they purport to replace. They are, in fact, no more than politically-correct window-dressing. And a fat party for the lads, of course. The bill sends itself to The Environment.
Last month I was at the camel fair in Pushkar, India. There is a drought in Northern India, consequently little grazing feed for camels and poor farmers can’t afford to buy fodder. One farmer brought two camels to the fair to sell, camels he had raised for 23 years. He said if he didn’t sell them, he would just turn them loose on the fair grounds and go home.