Species we’re killing this week: Camels
This is part of a series. Previously we’ve covered koalas and grizzly and black bears.
In Australia’s outback, camels were so thirsty - they have invaded a town seeking water.
Record-breaking drought drove the thirsty creatures to trample fences, smash water tanks, and terrorize locals, the AP reports
Some camels even tried to force their way into people’s homes to drink water from air conditioning units and taps.
"This is a very critical situation out there, it's very unusual and it needs urgent action. We don't have the luxury of time because the herd is getting bigger,” said Rob Knight, the local government minister.
It is not uncommon to see some camels in the remote community, but a continuing drought and an early heat wave have dried up other water sources and forced great numbers of them into town. Much of Australia is gripped by some of the worst drought conditions on record.
In August, the federal government announced plans to cut the wild camel population, including a possible mass slaughter.
Over the next week, helicopters will be used to drive them about nine miles into the desert before marksmen cull them from the air.
Camels are not native to Australia. They were first brought to Australia to help explorers travel through the desert, and now an estimated 1 million roam wild across the country.
Read the full story here.
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Comments
Arrogant mankind! killing any wild creature is wrong, in my book.
Posted by: Edward May | November 27, 2009 2:53 PM
All I have to say about this.
Is oh my god, that's terrible. It just goes to show that some men believe they can solve anything by killing something...
Posted by: Jamie | November 28, 2009 12:59 PM
Isnt there something more positive we could do here?like exporting them to any country willing to adopt a few camels.
india,pakistan for instance.
also as austalia is desperately short of women,maybe we could swap them instead,i believe the going rate is 20 camels for per woman.
Posted by: finn | November 29, 2009 1:12 AM
ME PARECE MUY POSITIVO TODO LO QUE SE PUEDA HACER PARA PROTEGER A TODOS LOS CAMELIDOS DE TODOS LOS CONTINENTES ..INCLUIDO MI PAIS EL PERU
SU AMIGO DE PERU
JOSE LUIS
30 DE NOVIEMBRE
Posted by: JOSE LUIS | November 30, 2009 11:32 PM
It is ludicrous the way the newspaper report has presented the camels- as destructive species that need to be destroyed rather than simple creatures, that had become so thirsty that they could not stop themselves from entering human locality for a drop of water- something they hadn't done ever before and something they wouldn't have done even now if situation had been better. And how are we humans treating these thirsty creatures? By slaughtering them! That's what we are teaching our children- that if any thirsty creature knocks your door for water, just kill it for the "disturbance"it has caused you!I wonder if the same killing technique is applicable to humans too!
Posted by: Nazneen Ahmed | January 22, 2010 7:34 AM