{"id":453015,"date":"2026-02-02T05:29:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T05:29:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/453015\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T05:29:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T05:29:10","slug":"destructive-feral-pest-weighing-hundreds-of-kilos-targeted-after-aussies-forced-to-hide-in-homes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/453015\/","title":{"rendered":"Destructive feral pest ‘weighing hundreds of kilos’ targeted after Aussies forced to hide in homes"},"content":{"rendered":"

About 600 feral camels<\/a> have been culled just weeks after rural residents claimed they had been forced to hide inside their homes as the invasive pests<\/a> wreaked havoc. A lack of rain has prompted large herds of camels to storm outback communities in search of water.<\/p>\n

The desperate camels<\/a> have caused extensive damage<\/a> to properties and businesses as they try to reach taps and knock air conditioning units off exterior walls with the hope of slight relief from the extreme heat.<\/p>\n

People living in Mount Liebig, about 320km west of Alice Springs, said they had to barricade themselves inside this month after a \u2018camel train\u2019 spanning 5km in length was spotted nearby.<\/p>\n

A dozen homes were left without a water supply as temperatures soared over 40 degrees, SBS<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n

Damien Ryan, area manager for the MacDonnell Regional Council, saw the chaos firsthand last week when 80 camels<\/a> \u201cclambered\u201d to reach a small building leak.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey just walk through six-foot-high security fences, and they knock the taps off the outside walls…they will break water mains a metre underground just to get to water,\u201d he told SBS.<\/p>\n

The Northern Territory\u2019s Environment Minister Josh Burgoyne said the animals, which can smell moisture, are some of the biggest he\u2019s ever seen.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re talking about large bull camels weighing hundreds of kilos that just want water, and they\u2019re willing to do anything,\u201d he told SBS.<\/p>\n

According to the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, camels get most of their water requirements from desert vegetation, but can drink \u201cbrackish\u201d, or salty water, to survive.<\/p>\n

Remarkably, a dehydrated camel can drink 200 litres of water in just three minutes.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The huge herds of camels have damaged properties and fencing in Mount Liebig. Source: NT Government\/SBS<\/p>\n

Do you have a story about invasive animals? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Authorities call for more funding after three-day aerial camel cull<\/p>\n

In response to the destruction, a joint taskforce comprising the NT Government, the Central Land Council and MacDonnell Regional Council approved a three-day aerial cull last week.<\/p>\n

However, additional funding is needed to undertake larger culls, authorities argued.<\/p>\n

\u201cLocal councils are quite literally having to hunt these camels out in the morning so that the communities can be safe,\u201d Minister Burgoyne said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou imagine in Sydney or Melbourne, if a mob of feral camels came in, dug up the local water supply and residents were left without water for a week or two, I think we would see absolute outrage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eradication out of the question despite $11 million economic hit<\/p>\n

There have been national programs to control camel populations in the past, the last one ended in 2013.<\/p>\n

The responsibility now falls on \u201cindividual landholders and communities\u201d, Dr Carol Booth, the Invasive Species Council\u2019s policy director, previously told Yahoo News Australia.<\/p>\n

While some states and territories do have coordinated programs across the country, she said it\u2019s \u201cnot consistent\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cEradication is not the goal,\u201d she explained, adding it\u2019s just not possible because there are just too many.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about bringing the numbers down so they are not causing massive damage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Camels<\/p>\n

Camels spotted in the Simpson Desert in South Australia. Source: Getty<\/p>\n

Aerial shooting and supplemented ground shooting are the most effective methods of population control, Dr Booth explained.<\/p>\n

In 2009, it was estimated the annual economic cost of camels was about $11 million a year, according to CSIRO researchers.<\/p>\n

Dr Booth said that camel populations double every eight to 10 years, so arguably the cost is even higher now.<\/p>\n

Camels were first brought to Australia in the 1800s to help explore central Australia.<\/p>\n

In the desert, their populations have exploded as a result, making Australia home to the largest wild population of Arabian camels in the world, according to Pest Smart.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can also follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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