More Than 10,000 Camels Will Be Culled In Australia Because They Drink Too Much Water

In order to stop feral camels from drinking all the water in the drought-ravaged Southern Australian region, the decision to eliminate the excess has been made. According to a report by Daily Mail, the Aboriginal leaders in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands (AYP), have ordered professional shooters to gather these camels together and then shoot more than 10,000 camels from helicopters to reduce their population. The process of this removal will begin from Tuesday and is expected to take five days. 

This heartbreaking decision of culling comes after complaints from the communities about these feral animals invading the properties in search of water. Apart from lowering the level of water in the area, the animals have also been said to be a contributing factor to global warming due to their methane equivalent emission of one tonne of carbon ­dioxide every year. Speaking to The Australian, Marita Baker, an APY executive board member said, "We have been stuck in stinking hot and uncomfortable conditions, feeling unwell, because the camels are coming in and knocking down fences, getting in around the houses and trying to get to water through air conditioners." 

If this strategy is not implemented the National Feral Camel Management Plan claims that the population of the feral camels would double every nine years. The APY's decision to cull the population is a result of their efforts to be awarded with carbon credits. The chief executive of carbon farming specialists RegenCo, Tim Moore explained that the emission of one million feral camels has the effect of a tonne of CO2 every year, which is equivalent to an additional 400,000 cars on the streets.

That being said, the Department of Energy and Environment pointed out that the emissions from feral animals should not be counted in a country’s emissions estimate because they don't fall under domestic management. "Australia does not report on emissions from feral animals. Therefore, activities that change the emissions from feral animals cannot be subject to an Emissions Reduction Fund method, as they are unable to result in eligible carbon abatement and cannot contribute to Australia’s emissions reduction targets," they said as per a report by Daily Mail.