A NSW Government website

NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Camel

Camelus dromedarius


  • Dromedary camels are a registerable dealing in the NSW Western Division.
  • Feral camels can cause significant, economic, social and environmental impacts.
  • Only localised feral camel populations are known to be found in western NSW.

Feral camels


Impacts

Dromedary camels were introduced to Australia in the 1800s. Once vehicles began to replace camels in freight haulage work, unwanted camels were occasionally released, which has resulted in the establishment of feral camel populations.

Feral camels have established across approximately 3.3 million km2 of Australia including areas used for pastoral enterprises, mining leases, Aboriginal lands, conservation lands and other Crown Land.

The negative impacts of feral camels as vertebrate pests are well documented and include significant economic, environmental and social costs.

Economic impacts include:
  • the direct costs of control programs
  • competition with livestock for food and water
  • damage to property infrastructure (fences, livestock yards, grazing lands and water sources) which in turn may result in livestock escaping.
Environmental impacts include:
  • damage to vegetation by their foraging behaviour and trampling as well as suppression of plant species by selective browsing on rare and threatened flora
  • damage wetlands through fouling, trampling and sedimentation
  • competing with native animals for food and shelter.
Social impacts include:
  • safety hazards for road users and on airstrips
  • cause a nuisance in residential areas and can damage community infrastructure.

Distribution

A localised feral camel population has been established in western NSW and is having serious negative impacts in the area.

If left uncontrolled, the feral camel population in western NSW is projected to increase at about 8 to 10 per cent each year, causing widespread damage and destruction.

See distribution maps

Information on registerable dealing in the NSW Western Division

It is an offence under the Biosecurity Act 2015 to deal with the following non-indigenous animal. Camelus dromedarius (dromedary camel or Arabian camel), unless the animal is in any part of New South Wales other than the Western Division and is permanently identified in a manner approved by the Secretary.

This form can be completed to apply for a biosecurity registration to keep camels NIA-biosecurity-registration-form.pdf