When we talked with people we learnt that not everyone
has the same ideas about feral camels. Scientists,
pastoralists, young people, old people and people from
different Aboriginal communities have different ideas
about how the camels should be managed. In 1995 the
Central Land Council talked with Aboriginal land
managers and this is what some people said about feral
camels and other feral animals on their country...
“We tried to get some money to get rid of them but nothing.”
“We could sell that camel meat to other communities.”
“Donkey, camel and horse, God made them all the same way.”
“People happier less horse and camel and more emu and warlu.”
“Camel, donkey and horse, they have no Dreaming, new ones, travelled in from somewhere.”
“God made all the animals so they fit in together okay.”
“Too many animals now. They breeding up.”
“We want to keep those (feral) animals.”
“Feral animals come into the country and settle down, now they belong here.”
“Plenty of feral animals they should be used.”
“They should look after those camels because they got the Three Camels Dreaming.”
Rose, B. 1995.
Land Management Issues: Attitudes and perceptions amongst Aboriginal people of central Australia
To manage feral camels in central Australia, Traditional
Owners, pastoralists, Parks and Wildlife, Central Land
Council and other government and non-government land
management agencies will need to work together.
Different ideas about camels on country
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