Facilitating feral camel removal in Australia through commercial use
J. G. Virtue A D , P. D. Gee A , N. M. Secomb A , P. R. O’Leary B and B. P. Grear CA Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA), GPO Box 1671, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
B Helifarm Pty Ltd, PO Box 110 Watervale, SA 5453, Australia (formerly of PIRSA).
C Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, GPO Box 1047, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: john.virtue@sa.gov.au
The Rangeland Journal 38(2) 143-151 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ15066
Submitted: 18 July 2015 Accepted: 20 March 2016 Published: 5 May 2016
Abstract
Approximately 16.5% of feral camel removal under the Australian Feral Camel Management Project (AFCMP) was by commercial means, via mustering for transport to abattoir (9.3%) and pet-meating in the field (7.2%). The challenges of commercial use of feral camels as a removal method include: variable density, mobility and distribution of the feral camel population; achieving landholder collaboration; accessibility to remote areas by road; availability of yard infrastructure and trucking capacity; and distance to slaughter facilities and end-markets. However, the AFCMP recognised commercial use as important to some Aboriginal communities, bringing a range of economic and social benefits as well as environmental outcomes in terms of reduced feral camel density. To facilitate mustering offtake, a removal assistance scheme was developed, whereby a formal landholder agreement was entered into with various legal requirements, including animal welfare. The agreement incentivised removal of both sexes: payments were for cow camels received at abattoir, but with a concurrent requirement for approximately equal sexes to be delivered to abattoir in an annual contract period. Additional project costs included contract development and oversight, landholder engagement, training and animal welfare auditing. Pet-meating, by way of ground culling and in-field butchering for meat storage in mobile refrigeration units, was also supported by the AFCMP via measures to increase harvest efficiency such as satellite tracking, aerial spotting and improved road access. However, pet-meating ceased mid-project due to changed industry demands. Post-AFCMP, mustering operations continue to service market demand for camel meat. The camel industry is also looking to camel farming to ensure greater continuity and quality of supply than can be achieved through wild harvest.
Additional keywords: landholder agreement, pet-meating, removal assistance.
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