As well as wreaking havoc in Docker River, camels have been blamed for defoliating shrubs and grazing on food sources traditionally used by Aboriginal Australians. They create a hazard for motorists travelling in the outback.
Macdonnell Shire council, which oversees Docker River, said many residents were unable to leave their homes. "The social and psychological impacts on some people about being contained in homes and not being able to step out " there will be some cost factors for the community there," the chief executive, Graham Taylor, told the Sydney Morning Herald.
The camels have butted water tanks, approached houses and knocked down fencing at the local runway. Knight said the carcasses of camels killed in stampedes at water holes were contaminating the town's water supply. "This is a very critical situation out there, it's very unusual and it needs urgent action," he said.
The state government plans to use helicopters to herd the camels nine miles from the town before shooting them, leaving their carcasses to rot in the desert.
A spokeswoman for Peta said the "trigger-happy response from authorities [was] inexcusable", and stressed alternative measures were available. "There are humane solutions to every problem, and authorities just need to be compassionate enough to employ them," she said.
"There's no question that shooting thousands of wild animals is going to lead to terror and massive suffering. It's human action which has led to this problem because people introduced camels to this environment à ‚¬" it's not the camels' fault and they shouldn't pay a fatal price for human failures."
Glenys Oogjes, executive director of the animal welfare group Animals Australia, said the community could organise barriers to keep out the camels. "It's a terrible thing that people react to these events by shooting," she said. "The real concern is the terrible distress and wounding when shot by helicopter ... There will be terrible suffering."
If the cull goes ahead next week, it is unlikely to have much of an impact on the overall camel problem in Australia. The government set aside A$19m (10.5m) in July for a programme to reduce the camel population, with proposals including shooting the animals en masse and using some of the meat for snacks, such as camel burgers. Animal welfare activists have mooted administering birth control drugs.
While the country makes up its mind about what to do with its camels, it should be mindful that the numbers are unlikely to fall of their own accord. The Northern Territory government has warned that the feral camel population is capable of doubling in size every nine years.
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