Residents of remote communities in Australia’s Northern Territory are effectively trapped inside their homes as large numbers of feral camels descend on towns in a desperate search for water, destroying infrastructure and creating widespread fear amid extreme heat.
In the Aboriginal community of Mount Liebig, around 320 kilometres west of Alice Springs, at least 11 homes have been left without running water after camels tore taps and air-conditioning units from the walls of houses. Temperatures in the region have hovered around 45 degrees Celsius, worsening the crisis for residents already facing limited access to essential services.
MacDonnell Regional Council chief executive Belinda Urquhart described the situation as dire, saying the damage caused by the animals has been extensive and ongoing.
“It’s a bloody terrible situation out there,” Ms Urquhart said. “There are fences down, taps destroyed, air-conditioning ripped off buildings, and camels perishing on the outskirts of the community because of the heat and lack of water.”
The camels, some weighing more than 600 kilograms, have crashed through fences and damaged yards, homes and public infrastructure as they attempt to reach any available water source. In several instances, camels have died within the community itself, forcing council workers to remove carcasses to prevent health risks.
According to Ms Urquhart, the sheer size and number of the animals have made the situation especially confronting for residents.
“They knock over fences and smash into buildings trying to get to taps or air-conditioning units,” she said. “They rip panels off houses and cause terrible damage in the process.”
Fear has spread through Mount Liebig and nearby areas, with many residents reluctant to leave their homes. Ms Urquhart said people are concerned not only for their own safety but also for their children and livestock.
“When you are faced with hundreds and hundreds of camels moving through your small community, and they are aggressive because they are desperate for water, people feel confined to their houses,” she said.
Camels were first brought to Australia in the 1840s to support exploration and transport across the arid interior. Over time, they were released or escaped into the wild, where their numbers have grown dramatically. Today, Australia is home to the world’s largest feral camel population, estimated at more than one million animals.
Contractors working in the outback have reported seeing massive “camel trains” stretching for kilometres as the animals migrate toward water sources and communities. Ms Urquhart said one recent group was particularly alarming.
“It was over five kilometres long, with between 800 and 1,000 camels all heading in one direction, towards another community,” she said.
Last week, the MacDonnell Regional Council formally requested assistance from the Northern Territory Government and the Central Land Council to address the escalating problem.
Central Land Council general manager of regional and development services Mischa Cartwright confirmed that a joint taskforce has now been established with the NT Government to urgently manage camel numbers around Mount Liebig.
“Staff will support NT Parks and Wildlife to herd camels away from exclusion zones around communities, outstations and roads,” Ms Cartwright said. She added that culling remains a necessary measure to protect people, the environment and animal welfare.
“To protect threatened species, keep communities safe and look after animal welfare, our land management team works regularly with the NT Government on camel and horse culling across priority regions,” she said, noting that more than 1,400 camels were culled last year.
Ms Urquhart said the council welcomed the coordinated response, stressing that swift action was essential.
“There’s destruction, there’s fear, and now all levels of government are coming together to sort the problem out,” she said.
