Australian plans to cull wild dromedaries, citing their contribution to global warming through flatulence, have faced backlash from camel experts.
The International Society of Camelid Research and Development labeled the notion as “false and stupid … a scientific aberration,” further stating that camels were being wrongfully blamed for a problem caused by humans.“We trust that the innovative people of Australia, known for their compassion, can devise more effective and intelligent solutions than the eradication of camels,” they expressed.
The proposal to kill camels was introduced in a document circulated by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, aimed at discussions regarding the reduction of carbon emissions.
This initiative is the idea of Northwest Carbon, a consultancy based in Adelaide specializing in land and animal management, which suggests that feral camels could be culled for the purpose of acquiring carbon credits.
Introduced in the 19th century to assist settlers in adapting to hot, arid climates, camels now number approximately 1.2 million and are considered a nuisance due to the damage they inflict on vegetation.
by David Livingstone