Day 16 - Feral Camels

It is a little known fact that Australia has the largest population of wild camels in the world. They are obviously not native to Oz but were imported in the second half of the 19th century to serve as transport animals in the Australian outback. It is estimated that during this period, about 12,000 were imported, mainly from India and Palestine. In addition, many were being bred in Oz.
With the coming of motor vehicles in the first part of the 20th century, their time came to an end and owners set them free and being ideally suited to the outback conditions, they thrived. They are now considered a pest and their numbers are regularly culled.

Don't bother to comment - just telling a story.

We have now left the map at http://365project.org/terryliv/from-the-archiv/2015-01-07 showing our tour up to the start of Day 15.

See the background to this series of postings on the Kimberley at http://365project.org/terryliv/from-the-archiv/2015-01-08

[ShirleyB]

You are right I have no idea about the numbers of camels in Oz, in fact I didn't even know there were camels in Oz outside a zoo maybe. Great find and shot.

[Jane Anderson]

This is such a remarkable story and find! Camels were actually sent out West here too, but they never took on either wild or tame.

[Pam Knowler]

Wow I didn't know you had wild camels! Great capture!

[Denise Wood]

Great capture. Yes this is one fact I know :)

[Tony]

Terrific shot of those iconic hills and shrubs.

[Janiskay]

Interesting information. Great capture.

[Rick Schies]

I didn't realize that

[Susan]

Very cool and I did not know that camels even existed in Australia! Very cool.

[Peter]

Great image of these wonderful beasts of burden Terry, I was told the first Camels were imported from the Canary Islands in 1840's, with more in 1860 for the ill-fated Bourke and Wills expedition from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria, these Camels were left to roam free, so unexpected to see them in Australia:)