Fencing
Electric fences can be especially designed to keep out camels. These fences need some technical knowledge and
more regular checking than non-electrified fences. Existing fences can be upgraded by adding an electrified plain
top wire.
Camels are big animals, used to travelling across country in search of food, water and, during the breeding season,
other camels. Fences can be built to keep camels out of water places, sacred sites and pastoral properties, but this
does not reduce numbers of camels on country. Fences can be broken by fighting bull camels or frightened camels
on the run. If fences are not strong enough or easy to see, feral camels can push through them.
Good camel fence design
Different types of fences are being used to
successfully control camel movement. Camel
researchers have found that you can make a
good camel fence by extending a standard
cattle fence (with 3 lines of barbed wire) to at
least 1.6 metres high. Tying empty aluminum
cans (beer and or soft drink cans) along the
top wire makes it easier for camels to both
see and hear the fence. Clearing the plants
from both sides of the fence makes the fence
easier to see and slows down the camels, so
less fences get broken.
For more information about camel fencing techniques visit
Cartoon: Blair McFarland
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