5,000 feral camels culled in drought-hit AustraliaCamels were first introduced to Australia in the 1840s to aid in the exploration of the continent's vast interior, with up to 20,000 imported from India in the six decades that followed. SYDNEY: Helicopter-borne marksmen killed more than 5,000 camels in a five-day cull of feral herds that were threatening indigenous communities in drought-stricken areas of southern Australia, officials said Tuesday. King said weakened camels frequently became stuck and died in water holes, contaminating water sources needed by locals and native animals and birds. "The prolonged dry period, while not difficult for native wildlife, leads to extreme distress for feral camels," he said. Traditional owners in the APY Lands have for years mustered and sold off feral camels.

Source: Bangkok Post January 14, 2020 08:37 UTC