Wild harvest at Docker River
Camel fat for rendering
Every Monday young men at Docker River community
harvest one wild camel. The camel is shot using a
303 rifle. A 22 bullet is not strong enough to kill a
camel safely and cleanly. The meat is then skillfully
butchered. Most of the meat is used at the youth
centre. Some of the best cuts, like the ribs, are
taken by the young blokes and given to important
people as thankyou gifts and gifts of respect. This
is how meat was shared in traditional times.
This is a non-commerical, community-based activity
that is making a very small difference to camel
numbers and a big difference to the way people think
about the skills of young people, the management of
camels and use of camel meat.
Photograph: Pauline Fietz
Butchering wildharvest
Photograph: Pauline Fietz
Mark Swindells, Mikey Kulitja,
Brett Simon
Photograph: Pauline Fietz
Mikey Kulitja
Young blokes preparing the camel for butchering
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