Camel » Origin

Camels were first introduced into Australia from the Canary Islands in 1840. Subsequently an estimated 12,000 camels were imported and ultimately released into the wild when road and rail transport resumed the camel’s role as a means of carrying freight.

Distribution
Camels are scattered through the arid interior of Australia with an estimate of 50% in Western Australia, 25% in the Northern Territory, and 25% in western Queensland and northern South Australia.

The Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory detailed aerial survey in 1994 over the southern half of the NT indicated a population of approx. 60,000 camels. The 2001 survey by the Northern Territory Parks & Wildlife Commission has estimated the present feral camel population in the Northern Territory to be in excess of 200,000. The likely Australian population is now 600,000.

As an alternative to Government controlled culling programs, CACIA has developed markets for trade in live camels and camel meat.