Camels were introduced to Australia in the 19th Century
as desert transport creatures. Australian officials say the country’s
camel population has grown to about 700,000 in recent years and because
they have no local predators, their numbers are growing by an estimated
11% per year, and population size has been doubling about once every
eight years. State land officials decided a cull was the most efficient
way to manage camel numbers. “The simplest, quickest and most
cost effective way of doing that is an aerial cull,” said
rural lands inspector Chris Turner. Marksmen riding in helicopters
would track the camels and shoot them from the air, Mr Turner told
Australia’s ABC radio.