Template:POTD/2008-02-05

A dromedary or one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) in the Australian Outback. Estimated populations of Australian feral camels are in the hundreds of thousands, and this is now the world's only population of dromedaries exhibiting wild behaviour. Thousands of camels were imported into Australia between 1840 and 1907 to open up the arid areas of central and western Australia. They were used for riding, and as draught and pack animals for exploration and construction of rail and telegraph lines; they were also used to supply goods to remote mines and settlements. Their impact on the environment is not as bad as that of other introduced pests in Australia. They prefer to eat trees and plants that local wildlife dislike; only 2% of their diet is grass.

Photo credit: John O'Neill
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