Camels

Australia is now home to what may be the largest wild population of Arabian camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the world. Originally introduced in the 1840s to support inland exploration, between 10,000 and 20,000 camels were imported from India by 1907, with most arriving in South Australia. Today, feral camels roam vast desert regions, including the Great Sandy, Gibson, Great Victoria, and Simpson deserts, and much of the semi-arid interior.

Highly mobile, camels can forage over 70 kilometres a day. They form bachelor groups or family groups of up to 30 females with young, and aggregations of up to 500 have been recorded. Although females typically give birth only once every two years, camels are long-lived, reaching up to 50 years of age with few natural predators.

Camels are selective feeders, preferring shrubs and trees over grasses. They can survive long periods without water but will drink daily in hot conditions if water is available. As large herbivores, they contribute significantly to grazing pressure, especially during and after drought. They also damage fences and pose a risk of spreading exotic diseases to livestock. Management methods include trapping at water points, mustering, shooting, and exclusion fencing, alongside a growing camel meat, export, and tourism industry.