Feral Love

Australian feral camels are introduced populations of dromedary, or one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius—from the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian subcontinent). Imported to Australia as valuable beasts of burden from British India and Afghanistan during the 19th century (for transport and sustenance during the exploration and colonisation of the Red Centre), many were casually released into the wild after motorised transport negated the use of camels in the early 20th century. This resulted in a fast-growing feral population with numerous ecological, agricultural, and social consequences. Australia has the largest population of feral camels, which is notable for being disease-free and the only herd of dromedary camels exhibiting wild behaviours in the world. In 2008, the number of feral camels was estimated to be more than one million, with the capability of doubling in number every 8 to 10 years. An AU$19 million culling program was funded in 2009, and by 2013 a total of 160,000 camels were slaughtered, estimating the feral population to have been reduced to around 300,000, with an annual growth of 10% per year. A post-kill analysis projected the original count to be around 600,000.