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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 32(1)

Distribution and abundance of the feral camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Australia

W. K. Saalfeld A C and G. P. Edwards B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts, and Sport, PO Box 496, Palmerston, NT 0831, Australia.

B Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts, and Sport, PO Box 1120, Alice Springs, NT 0871, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: keith.saalfeld@nt.gov.au

The Rangeland Journal 32(1) 1-9 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ09058
Submitted: 21 August 2009  Accepted: 23 December 2009   Published: 23 March 2010

Abstract

In this paper we utilised a range of data sources to estimate the extent, density distribution and population size of the feral camel in Australia in 2008. Camels currently occupy 3.3 million km2 and are spread across much of arid Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory and far western Queensland. Up to 50% of Australia’s rangelands are reported as having camels present. The research reported here supports a current minimum population estimate for the feral camel in Australia of ~1 million animals at an overall density of 0.29 camels/km2. Densities vary, and the modelling of available data indicates that two substantial areas of high density are present, one centred on the Simpson Desert and the other on the Great Sandy Desert. The high density area covering the eastern part of the Great Sandy Desert has predicted densities in the range of 0.5 to >2 animals/km2 whereas that on the Simpson Desert is in the range 0.5–1.0 animals/km2.


Acknowledgements

The work reported in this publication was supported by funding from the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust through the Desert Knowledge CRC; the views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Government or the Desert Knowledge CRC or its participants. We would like to thank Professor Murray McGregor, Benxaing Zeng and Phil Gee for their valuable input in discussions about the size, extent and density of feral camel populations in Australia. Bruce Ward and Mark Lethbridge provided raw aerial survey data which underpinned the kriging analyses and we thank them sincerely. Peter Whitehead provided frank criticism of the material presented in this paper. It has been improved considerably through his input.


References


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