Comments on: Australian drought drives camels to overrun town http://www.theworld.org/2009/11/26/australian-drought-drives-camels-to-overrun-town/ Global Perspectives for an American Audience Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:42:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tim Bonham http://www.theworld.org/2009/11/26/australian-drought-drives-camels-to-overrun-town/comment-page-1/#comment-4373 Tim Bonham Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:42:09 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=19692#comment-4373 The reality on the ground is much more complex than people seem to think it is. No one, especially the aboriginal population, sees culling as an attractive solution, but you need to see the bigger picture. For the record I have spent time both on and around camels and I think they are an amazing and misunderstood animal. They went from a few thousand to 1.5 million in less than 100 years and they live up to 30 years. The fact is the delicate ecosystems that exist in Central Australia simple cannot support those kinds of numbers. Camels are a very large animal and I can imagine it would be terrifying to see hundreds if not thousands rampaging through your town. I spoke with a conservationist who not only loves camels but owns a pair. He told me that culling was a difficult subject, for him and many people, not only because camels are amazing animals but because they played such an important role in the history of the country. At the same time he realized that culling was likely a necessary part of the solution as sadly there was no practical alternative, due to the vastness of the area and nature of the terrain. His sentiments were echoed by almost every camel loving person I met. As for it being disgusting, despicable or barbaric, every measure possible is taken to ensure the animals do not suffer, and while it isn't pretty a bullet to the back of the head is not cruel. We do far, far worse to animals we raise for our own consumption. The reality on the ground is much more complex than people seem to think it is. No one, especially the aboriginal population, sees culling as an attractive solution, but you need to see the bigger picture.

For the record I have spent time both on and around camels and I think they are an amazing and misunderstood animal. They went from a few thousand to 1.5 million in less than 100 years and they live up to 30 years. The fact is the delicate ecosystems that exist in Central Australia simple cannot support those kinds of numbers. Camels are a very large animal and I can imagine it would be terrifying to see hundreds if not thousands rampaging through your town.

I spoke with a conservationist who not only loves camels but owns a pair. He told me that culling was a difficult subject, for him and many people, not only because camels are amazing animals but because they played such an important role in the history of the country. At the same time he realized that culling was likely a necessary part of the solution as sadly there was no practical alternative, due to the vastness of the area and nature of the terrain. His sentiments were echoed by almost every camel loving person I met.

As for it being disgusting, despicable or barbaric, every measure possible is taken to ensure the animals do not suffer, and while it isn’t pretty a bullet to the back of the head is not cruel. We do far, far worse to animals we raise for our own consumption.

]]> By: aj scott http://www.theworld.org/2009/11/26/australian-drought-drives-camels-to-overrun-town/comment-page-1/#comment-4356 aj scott Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:38:50 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=19692#comment-4356 Yes, it is barbaric, but the obvious alternative is to permit these poor animals to slowly and painfully die of dehydration. Wouldn't that be even more horrific? Surely someone out there must be able to think of a third, a humane, way to solve or alleviate this immediate problem. Yes, it is barbaric, but the obvious alternative is to permit these poor animals to slowly and painfully die of dehydration. Wouldn’t that be even more horrific?

Surely someone out there must be able to think of a third, a humane, way to solve or alleviate this immediate problem.

]]> By: J D Allinder http://www.theworld.org/2009/11/26/australian-drought-drives-camels-to-overrun-town/comment-page-1/#comment-3882 J D Allinder Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:35:53 +0000 http://www.theworld.org/?p=19692#comment-3882 The proposed solution of rounding up the camels and shooting them is just disgusting. Though they're not Australian natives, neither are the members of the country's dominant human culture that proposes killing them. Despicable. J D Allinder Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA The proposed solution of rounding up the camels and shooting them is just disgusting. Though they’re not Australian natives, neither are the members of the country’s dominant human culture that proposes killing them. Despicable.

J D Allinder
Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA

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