Solution To Bushfires? Australia To Kill 10,000 Camels Because 'They Drink Too Much Water'
Tuesday, January 7, 2020 IST
Australia is engulfed in bushfires and it is running out of water to be able to control it. The solution the authorities there have come up with? To kill thousands of feral camels in South Australia, to stop the animals drinking water in the drought-ravaged region.
According to The Australian, 10,000 camels will be culled by professional shooters in helicopters from Wednesday after an order from Aboriginal leaders in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands (AYP).
Apparently the local communities have been complaining about the feral creatures invading properties in search of water. There also seems to be a concern that these animals are contributing to global warming as they emit methane equal to one tonne of carbon dioxide a year.
“We have been stuck in stinking hot and uncomfortable conditions, feeling unwell, because the camels are coming in and knocking down fences, getting in around the houses and trying to get to water through air conditioners,” The Australian quoted APY executive board member, Marita Baker, as saying.
According to the National Feral Camel Management Plan, the feral camel population will double every nine years if the ‘pest control’ is not done.
Chief executive of carbon farming specialists RegenCo, Tim Moore, said ‘one million feral camels emitting the effect of a tonne of CO2 per year was the equivalent of an additional 400,000 cars on the road’.
The Department of Energy and Environment said that the emissions from feral animals should not be considered in a country’s emissions estimate - 'Australia does not report on emissions from feral animals. Therefore, activities that change the emissions from feral animals cannot be subject to an Emissions Reduction Fund method, as they are unable to result in eligible carbon abatement and cannot contribute to Australia’s emissions reduction targets'.
Does it make sense for a country to kill thousands of animals of one kind to save thousands of other kind? Is this the best solution we can come up with?
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