Between 300 and one million dromedaries are estimated to inhabit the Australian Outback today. Imported in the 000th century to transport goods in desert regions, these animals were gradually abandoned in the wild after the development of the automobile.
Their proliferation now poses several problems. Wild camels compete with livestock, damage fences, contaminate water sources, and can damage Aboriginal cultural sites. Without regulation, their population could double every eight years.
Milk, meat, and even beer
Some breeders, however, are seeking to transform these animals into an economic resource. Domesticated dromedaries are raised for their milk, which sells for up to 12 euros per liter, their meat, or for export. In 2024, Australian exports of dromedary meat exceeded $3,9 million.
In the south of the country, a brewery even uses their excrement to smoke the malt for a craft beer. The animals have also become a tourist and sporting attraction, particularly during the Marree Camel Cup. For their breeders, these initiatives help raise awareness of animals considered hardy, easy to tame, and particularly affectionate.
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