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Aussie Aerial Shoot Could Cull 1M Camels

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 26, 2009 7:45 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Australian officials are debating how to cull more than 1 million camels currently munching across the outback and irritating Aboriginals, the Independent reports. Some experts support an aerial shoot to save the desert ecosystem, but say it must be thorough; killing 80,000 would only match their birth rate. Estimated to cost $16 million, the cull could also net $1 billion in profits—especially if the world can develop a taste for camel burgers, The Australian reports.

"The world has a need for low-cost protein," says one entrepreneur who wants the government to fund camel-meat processing. "Problem solved—you've got your environmental benefit, you're employing people and you've supplied meat for aid programs in Afghanistan." As it stands, the government plans let the camel carcasses rot, and Aboriginals have not granted Aussies access to land to cart the meat away.

Bruce Wood from Kenmore Hills, Queensland rides past a camel carcass on the side of the road during day three of the Simpson Desert Bike Challenge race on October 4, 2007 in Australia.
Bruce Wood from Kenmore Hills, Queensland rides past a camel carcass on the side of the road during day three of the Simpson Desert Bike Challenge race on October 4, 2007 in Australia.   (Getty Images)
Camels gather in the pit before the start of the 2007 Camel Cup at Blatherskite Park on July 14, 2007 in Alice Spirngs, Australia.
Camels gather in the pit before the start of the 2007 Camel Cup at Blatherskite Park on July 14, 2007 in Alice Spirngs, Australia.   (Getty Images)
A wild camel stands on top of a sand dune just off the course of the Simpson Desert Bike Challenge race on October 2, 2007 in the Simpson Desert, Australia.
A wild camel stands on top of a sand dune just off the course of the Simpson Desert Bike Challenge race on October 2, 2007 in the Simpson Desert, Australia.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
bewilderbeast
Jul 27, 2009 10:20 AM CDT
tired, you are a sad blowhard. anchower, you have the seeds of a great idea! Sarah aint doin nuthin right now, so she'd be ideal to go shoot her some camels to go with her wolves and bears. And maybe she'll stay in Oz . .
bewilderbeast
Jul 27, 2009 10:16 AM CDT
jayster, you are a prime sh*t-stirrer - heh
Rembrandt_Q_Einstein
Jul 27, 2009 8:00 AM CDT
@tiredofthisnonsense tl:dr and P.S. you're stupid. Hugs.

 
Australia • camel • Kevin Rudd • Aboriginal

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