Reports of thousands of feral camels “storming” remote communities in Central Australia describe a recurring environmental and humanitarian crisis. Driven by extreme heat and drought, these massive herds—often numbering in the thousands—descend on towns in desperate search of water, tearing up infrastructure and endangering residents.
This report outlines the government’s strategy for managing this threat, referencing the major operations in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands and the ongoing management plans for 2026 and beyond.
The Situation: Why Camels “Storm” Communities
Australia is home to the world’s largest feral camel population, estimated at over one million. While usually reclusive in the deep desert, extreme heatwaves and drought force them toward human settlements.
- Infrastructure Destruction: Thirsty camels can smell water from up to 5 kilometers away. In their desperation, they tear air conditioning units off walls to access condensation, smash through fences, and break water pipes.
- Water Contamination: When weak camels congregate around waterholes, many get stuck and die, their decaying carcasses poisoning the water supply for local communities and native wildlife.
- Public Safety: The sheer physical presence of thousands of panicked, large animals (weighing up to 600kg) in small communities poses a direct physical threat to residents, particularly children and the elderly.
Government Action: The Strategy
The government’s response, coordinated between State departments (like South Australia’s Department for Environment and Water) and local Indigenous authorities (such as the APY Executive Board), relies on a mix of immediate emergency culls and long-term biological management.
1. Aerial Culling (The Primary Emergency Response)
When herds become too large and aggressive to manage, the government authorizes large-scale aerial culls. This is often the specific “action” headlines refer to when communities are “stormed.”
- Method: Professional sharpshooters are deployed in helicopters to cull thousands of animals in a matter of days.
- Scale: Operations can involve culling 5,000 to 10,000 camels in a single week. The most famous of these occurred in the APY Lands in January 2020, but similar targeted operations continue as needed.
- Rationale: Authorities argue this is the most humane option. In severe drought, these camels are already dying of thirst, often trampling each other to death. Culling prevents prolonged suffering and protects the community’s dwindling water reserves.
2. Long-Term Management (2026-2031)
Beyond emergency culling, the government has implemented sustained management strategies, such as the Alinytjara Wiluṟara Landscape Plan.
- Commercial Use vs. Pest Control: While there is a small industry for camel meat and live export, it cannot keep up with the population boom (which doubles every 9 years). The remote location and lack of abattoirs make commercial harvesting logistically impossible for emergency situations.
- Exclusion Fencing: Investing in robust fencing to protect key waterholes and cultural sites, allowing native wildlife access while keeping camels out.
- Buffer Zones: Creating camel-free zones around remote communities to prevent the “storming” events before they begin.
Summary of Official Position
The Department for Environment and Water and Aboriginal leaders have consistently stated that while culling is a difficult decision, it is a necessary measure of last resort.
“As custodians of the land, we need to deal with an introduced pest in a way that protects valuable water supplies for communities and puts the lives of everyone, including our young children, the elderly, and native flora and fauna first.” — APY Lands General Manager (2020 Statement)
