Camel (Dromedary)
(Pic: by John O'Neill)
Thousands of camels of varying breeds were introduced into Australia between 1840 and 1907. They were imported to open up outback regions providing transport for exploration, carrying construction equipment and supplies to remote areas. With the emergence of rail and road transport, camels’ uses diminished greatly and many were abandoned and turned feral, breeding abundantly and spreading throughout outback Australia. Today it is estimated there are over 500 000 camels throughout Australia, particularly WA that are divided into two groups - a heavy pack species and its more slender riding counterpart. Feral camels feed on grasses, shrubs and salty plants to satisfy their high saline requirements. They do not need to drink if their food supplies contain a large amount of moisture, but when dehydrated, camels can consume 200 litres in just a few minutes. Breeding occurs between May-Oct with a single young being born. Camels live in groups of about a dozen and live for up to half a century. Increasing camel populations do present threats to native vegetation, damage to agricultural property and spreading of diseases to domestic livestock.

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