Camels can change the desert country
Big mobs of camels can change country by:
• eating trees, shrubs and grasses (including
bush tucker plants)
• breaking and knocking down trees and shrubs
• drinking up waterholes
• disturbing sandy soils and sensitive areas
around salt pans
•
taking food and water that kangaroos and
other native animals might eat
When they are travelling around country, camels can
also break stock fences and damage cattle watering
points. This causes expensive problems for pastoralists
and Aboriginal communities.
Camels damage soil
Camels have a soft, cushion-like foot pad which is good
for travelling through sand country. Technically camels’
feet do not damage the soil as much as cattle and horse
hooves. But big mobs of camels can cause soil damage.
In the desert country it is easy to see camel tracks
that have loosened the soil. During heavy rain this loose
soil can wash away. As camels are moving around country
they can trample plants. Saltpan environments are
sensitive and the saltpan plants are easily damaged by
big mobs of camels.
Photograph © Hans Boessem
50 camels in a wild herd
8
Photograph © Michael Barritt
The impacts of camels are becoming more noticeable
now they are around in large numbers.
