Australia: Shooting of thousands of wild camels planned Measure against the fast growing camel population
Scoop Report By Marietta Gross
In Australia thousands of wild camels will be shot from helicopters. This was necessary in order to halt the explosive
growth of the camel population, explained a government spokesperson. The camels have become a burden for sheep and
cattle breeding due to short water resources in some regions. Animal rights activists proclaimed their resistance to the
proposal.
The camels were introduced to Australia back in 1885 to transport weights through the country’s ranges. After trains and
trucks had been established they were not needed anymore, and were released. As the camels have no natural enemies in
Australia their number exploded. 500,000 camels are estimated to live in Australia.
Their number rises by about eleven per cent every year, said government representative Chris Turner. “The easiest,
fastest and most effective method” was to shoot the animals from helicopters.
ENDS