Chapter 1: Background to the project

Chapter 1: Background to the project Policy Briefings

Managing the impacts of feral camels in Australia: a new way of doing business

  • Author(s): Edwards, GP,
  • Secondary Author(s): Edwards, GP, McGregor, MJ, Zeng, B, Vaarzon-Morel, P, Saalfeld, WK
  • Tertiary Author(s): Desert Knowledge CRC,
  • Published: 2008
  • Publisher: Desert Knowledge CRC
  • Volume: DKCRC Research Report No. 47

Link to resource Report broken link

Abstract: Because they are established and widespread, feral camels are one of the 73 or so species of introduced vertebrates occurring on mainland Australia that do not meet the criteria to justify eradication effort. For such species, the management options are containment, control, or no management (Australian Pest Animal Strategy 2007). We need to manage feral camels in Australia because the deleterious impacts of the species on pastoral production, the environment, and on social and cultural values are evident at current population densities over many parts of the camel’s range (see Edwards et al. 2008). Furthermore, the current estimated population of about one million feral camels is doubling every 8–10 years (Edwards et al. 2004, Saalfeld & Edwards 2008) and it is presumed that impacts will increase along with the population (Edwards et al. 2008).

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