Camels. Past their use by Date?

Another “Pop Quiz” for you. Which country in the world has the largest population of wild camels? I will give you a little clue. The answer starts with an “ A”.

Camels and in many cases their Afghan Handlers, were imported into Australia in the early years of “ White Settlement”. These camels were used by early explorers and settlers as “ships of the desert”, particularly in central Australia before rail and modern motor transport made them inefficient, too slow, and therefore redundant, by the early 1930’s.

That they played an important role in Australia’s early history is revealed in that when they were seen to be no longer wanted in the 1930’s, some 20,000 of them were abandoned in central Australia and allowed to run free. Quite a large number hey, for an originally imported animal?

When no longer needed, they were released into the wild. Now this may sound like a noble act of animal liberation, but in hindsight it just released another pest animal into the wild.

When controlled, these animals had a valid use and were kept under control but when they were no longer needed or valued, they were released into the wild to fend for themselves. Which they did very, very well and now some 70’s years later they are a pest and have multiplied to be over half a million strong and literally roaming anywhere they please in central Australia. Apparently ordinary fences mean nothing to them and they easily push their way through them, destroying the fences, and often in more than one place, along the way.

Now the camel has long been regarded as a pest and various methods have been used in attempts to control their numbers, including shooting them. More recently attempts to use their meat for pet food and even export to Asian and Middle Eastern countries have been contemplated. Also for some time now, some camels have been exported to the Middle East, particularly to be used for Camel racing. Of course some have been used in Circuses, Zoos, and for Camel treks, etc, but largely, they continue to be undesired and unvalued, and unwanted.

Now although some methods are being used to control their numbers and also to make it profitable at the same time, little has so far been achieved in reducing their huge numbers. Thus because of previous indifference, the number is now so large that all attempts thus far, have done little to reduce the overall number and the environmental impact that these animals, once desired but now pests, cause across most of the middle and Top End of Australia.

Enough about Camels, what about us? Are we now no longer needed for what we were originally intended for, and have largely been left to fend for ourselves? If so what have we done about it? Have we allowed ourselves to go truly wild and now are regarded as both destructive and undesirable, and now all people want, is to see the end of us?

Is that truly our end or can we find a niche place in the market, whether as Racing or Trek camels or as ordinary “ working stiffs” in a circus or such.

In other words are we earning our place in society and worthy of our places? Or are we just nuisances? Over to you: Walter