| Travelling Australia Fact Sheet http://www.travelling-australia.info |
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| One-humped Camel - Camelus dromedarius | |
 The first camels to be imported into Australia arrived from the Canary Island in 1840. The next major importation was of 24 camels in 1860 for the Burke and Wills expedition. They proved very successful as beasts of burden and an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 camels were imported between then and 1907 to provide transport services in the interior. A large bull was expected to carry up to 600 kilograms and a smaller camel between 300 and 400 kilograms. They normally travelled 30 to 40 kilometres a day in desert country with a very big camel team comprising 70 camels and four drivers. Teams of 100 camels are reported to have been used to carry material to build the rabbit-proof fence in Queensland. Their ability to carry large loads without access to water ensured camels were widely used for transport in the more arid regions. The explorer Giles travelled 350 kilometres in eight days without giving water to his camels. Most camels were released in the 1920s when motor vehicles became more common; the freed camels established feral herds scattered through the inland arid interior. Total population is estimated to be at least 400,000 with half of them in Western Australia and the camel population continues to increase. Feral camels move up to 70 kilometres a day, depending on conditions. In summer they are found in bushland and sandplain country offering food and shade, in winter they move to salt lakes and marshes. Camels eat most plant material, including fresh grasses and shrubs, preferring roughage to pasture that has introduced grasses or has been fertilised. Camels have a high need for salt and eat salty plants, even devouring thorny, bitter or toxic species avoided by other herbivores. Feral camels browse on vegetation as high as 3.5 metres above the ground. Bull camels break off high branches for their females to eat. When forage is green and moist, feral camels get sufficient water from plants and do not need to drink. In drier times camels drink regularly at dawn. In drought they need access to waterholes - a dehydrated camel can drink 200 litres in three minutes. Wild camels can be a nuisance because of a habit of leaning on fences and knocking them over. Feral camels are non-territorial. They are found in three kinds of groups; year-round groups of males, summer groups of females and calves, winter breeding groups of a mature bull with several cows and their calves. Only old bulls are solitary. Herds average 11 in number but larger groups may form in summer when herds congregate. Breeding season is from May to October. Males gather a herd of 20 or more cows which are defended from other bulls. Pregnancy lasts about 13 months; a cow gives birth to a single young weaned at about 18 months. Lifespan is up to 50 years. Feral camels, especially females, are readily domesticated and used as riding camels; some rural centres have annual camel races. Some meat has been produced from feral camels. | |
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Information: Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage at http://www.deh.gov.au | |
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