Selling camels
Camel management in the Northern Territory has been limited to
live muster of wild animals. The Central Australian Camel Industry
Association currently harvests 5,000-8,000 camels from the wild
each year. While this reduces pressure on the country, it is not
enough to stop camels damaging country or their numbers
increasing.
Between 1988 and 2002 Australia exported 2,869 live camels to
over 11 countries. Some camels are exported live to countries in
Asia and the Middle East, where people like to eat camel meat.
Some camels are sold within Australia for tourism and for meat.
Camel meat
Camel meat is a low fat, low cholesterol source of protein. Because
the meat is free-range, it is chemical-free. In Alice Springs you can
buy camel meat from the Milner Meat Supply, Charbray Meats
(Yeperenye Shopping Centre) and Shorty’s Quality Meats. Camel meat
costs about the same as beef. Bulk camel meat can be bought at
wholesale prices from the Central Australian Camel Industry Association
(phone: 89518183). The Steak House and Red Ochre Restaurants
also sell camel meat as wild-harvest speciality dishes.
If negotiations with investors are successful, the Central Australian Camel Industry Association intends to build an
abattoir near Alice Springs. This will mean a bigger market for camels. Other camel products include milk, which
can be made into cheese and yoghurt; hides and leather (with or without fur); and wool. For more information on
camel products visit the camel industry web site
.
Camels being loaded on to a boat for transport to Asia, for meat.
Cartoon: Blair McFarland
Camels being loaded on to a plane at Alice Springs airport. These
camels are going to zoos in America.
Photograph: Peter Seidel
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