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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 32(1)

Demography of feral camels in central Australia and its relevance to population control

A. R. Pople A C and S. R. McLeod B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Biosecurity Queensland, Primary Industries and Fisheries, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Alan Fletcher Research Station, PO Box 36, Sherwood, Qld 4075, Australia.

B Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Forest Road, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: Tony.Pople@deedi.qld.gov.au

The Rangeland Journal 32(1) 11-19 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ09053
Submitted: 31 July 2009  Accepted: 3 December 2009   Published: 23 March 2010

Abstract

Since their release over 100 years ago, camels have spread across central Australia and increased in number. Increasingly, they are being seen as a pest, with observed impacts from overgrazing and damage to infrastructure such as fences. Irregular aerial surveys since 1983 and an interview-based survey in 1966 suggest that camels have been increasing at close to their maximum rate. A comparison of three models of population growth fitted to these, albeit limited, data suggests that the Northern Territory population has indeed been growing at an annual exponential rate of r = 0.074, or 8% per year, with little evidence of a density-dependent brake. A stage-structured model using life history data from a central Australian camel population suggests that this rate approximates the theoretical maximum. Elasticity analysis indicates that adult survival is by far the biggest influence on rate of increase and that a 9% reduction in survival from 96% is needed to stop the population growing. In contrast, at least 70% of mature females need to be sterilised to have a similar effect. In a benign environment, a population of large mammals such as camels is expected to grow exponentially until close to carrying capacity. This will frustrate control programs, because an ever-increasing number of animals will need to be removed for zero growth the longer that culling or harvesting effort is delayed. A population projection for 2008 suggests ~10 500 animals need to be harvested across the Northern Territory. Current harvests are well short of this. The ability of commercial harvesting to control camel populations in central Australia will depend on the value of animals, access to animals and the presence of alternative species to harvest when camels are at low density.

Additional keywords: fertility control, harvesting, population dynamics.


Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Peter Whitehead for providing comments on a draft. Comments by Mark Lethbridge and an anonymous reviewer also improved a previous version of the manuscript. The work reported in this publication is 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.


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