Australia hosts the largest population of wild dromedary camels in the world. This situation arose from the decision to import the hardy animals for inland transport. These dromedary camels now roam freely across the country’s vast arid interior, thriving in the absence of natural predators. The sheer scale of this feral population has created a complex environmental and economic challenge for the continent, placing Australia at the center of a unique wildlife management issue.
Current Population Estimates and Geographic Spread
The current population of feral camels in Australia is estimated to be over one million individuals, a figure that fluctuates based on environmental conditions and management efforts. If left unchecked, this population has the capacity to double in size every eight to nine years, reflecting their successful adaptation to the Australian outback.
These large herds are distributed across approximately 3.3 million square kilometers of arid and semi-arid rangelands, nearly half of the continent’s rangelands. This area, often referred to as the “Camel Belt,” spans Western Australia, the Northern Territory, South Australia, and parts of Queensland. The highest densities are found in the central and western deserts.
Obtaining an exact count is difficult due to the remoteness of the terrain, so population figures are based on aerial surveys and modeling. Australia’s feral camel population remains significantly larger than any other wild dromedary herd globally.
The Origin of Australia’s Feral Camels
The presence of camels in Australia dates back to the mid-19th century. They were imported primarily to facilitate exploration and the development of infrastructure in the arid interior. Larger numbers followed, brought in from British India and Afghanistan to serve as transport animals, as European explorers recognized that horses and oxen were poorly suited for the harsh central deserts.
Camels proved superior for long-distance haulage and exploration, capable of carrying heavy loads for extended periods without water. They played a significant role in constructing major projects, including the Overland Telegraph Line and the transcontinental railways. Between 1870 and the early 1900s, an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 camels were imported, often accompanied by their handlers, who were known as “Afghans.”
The widespread use of camels declined sharply with the introduction of motorized transport in the 1920s. As their utility ended, many camels were simply released into the outback by their owners. These abandoned animals quickly formed feral populations, thriving in an environment similar to their native desert habitats.
Ecological Damage and Threat to Infrastructure
The large herds of feral camels cause significant damage to the fragile arid ecosystems of the Australian rangelands. Camels are generalist feeders, consuming over 80% of available plant species, which creates direct competition with native herbivores for food. Their feeding habits can severely defoliate sensitive vegetation, including important food plants traditionally harvested by Aboriginal people.
Ecological harm is intensified by the camels’ tendency to congregate around scarce water sources, particularly during drought conditions. They foul waterholes and rock pools, which are crucial refuges for native fauna and culturally significant sites for Indigenous communities. Furthermore, their heavy hooves trample vegetation and destabilize dune crests, leading to soil erosion.
The animals also pose a direct threat to human infrastructure and remote communities. Thirsty herds damage fences and destroy essential water infrastructure like pipes, pumps, and storage tanks in their search for water. This destruction is especially impactful in remote Aboriginal settlements, where the contamination or loss of stored water creates serious hazards.
National Management and Control Efforts
Managing the extensive feral camel population requires large-scale, coordinated strategies across the vast rangelands. The National Feral Camel Action Plan (NFCAP), established in 2010, provided a framework to mitigate the animals’ impacts. The goal of these programs is to reduce camel numbers to a sustainable level in key environmental and cultural areas.
Control efforts rely on a combination of methods. Aerial culling is the most effective technique for rapid, large-scale population reduction in remote areas, carried out under strict national codes of practice to ensure humaneness. Other approaches include ground shooting and mustering, which is used to capture camels for commercial purposes.
The commercial utilization of camels involves live export, tourism, and a developing industry for meat and milk. While mustering and trapping contribute to local control, they do not significantly reduce the overall national population growth rate. Success depends on sustained funding and cooperation to maintain low densities and prevent the population from rebounding.