Thousands of rotting camels polluting Australia's Outback

[FarCenter]

From: AAP December 03, 2009 3:27PM
http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/thousands-of-rotting-camels-polluting-australias-outback/story-e6frfq80-1225806650495

THE rotting carcasses of thousands of wild camels who have died of thirst in Australia's desert Outback are polluting vital waterholes and sacred sites, officials said.

The Central Land Council, which administers Aboriginal land in the nation's arid centre, said the corpses were poisoning water supplies, describing scenes of mass carnage.

"Some fall into waterholes and won't be able to get out so they'll rot within the water, others will chase the last remains of any water in these areas and start to compete with each other,'' the council's land management chief David Alexander said.

"We're ending up with these grisly scenes of camels in every stage of life, death and decay around waterholes."

Thousands of pools, creeks and other water supplies for local indigenous tribes were rendered undrinkable by the decay, with a "significant health risk'' when they were refilled by rain, he said.

Without significant rainfall, Mr Alexander said tens of thousands more camels in the drought-gripped region faced a similar fate, with dire environmental and cultural consequences.

<SNIP>

Meanwhile officials are preparing for an aerial cull of 3000 of the humped pests near the remote Northern Territory community of Docker River with helicopters and snipers.

Protracted drought drew the camels into the township in search of water, leaving some residents cowering in their homes as they smashed through water mains and invaded the airstrip.

[HopeHoops]

1. Don't worry. Burger King will get to them eventually.

You want fries with that?

[Botany]

2. what global warming?

so hot and dry for even camels .... :wow:

BTW they never should have been there like rabbits, cane toads, and feral domestic cats.

[era veteran]

3. Or starlings or kudzu, or the many other invasive things here.

[Botany]

5. bush honeysuckle, purple loosestrife, norway maple, & wild boar .....

... and so many more.

[era veteran]

6. Lots & lots more

I am on a honeysuckle & euonymus vendetta at the moment. Kudzu is now only about 60 miles south of Lexington now. Fight the invaders!

[Botany]

7. Woody plants ...... cut at ground level and treat cross cut w/ a 50%

round up mix. Get the garlic mustard too ..... late summer spray w/ round up ....
always replant w/ native plants ..... wild ginger is a great plant.

[era veteran]

8. I am an organic crazy

I could never use poison. I do dig them out by the roots though. Kudzu I am not too familiar with other than knowing they have a tremendous root. With exception of my leather leaf Japanese Maple I am removing all non indigenous plants from my property. It is not easy. Peace, Richard

[Botany]

9. I am an ecologist ..... round up is just a tool and if used right very safe.

The real toxins are the nonnative plants ..... boiling water and horticultural vinegar can be used in
some cases.

[era veteran]

11. I saw a Southern States Salesman lick DDT in the'60's he is dead now.

I use boiling water a lot.I could not bring myself to use a chemical that kills everything. Who knows if future science will ban roundup? I am a Rodale gardener.

[vadawg]

12. rofl, for some reason this just made me rofl, my uncle ate a carrot back in the 50's and hes dead

too, its almost monty pythonesque...

[era veteran]

13. My bad I should have made it clearer for you

He is dead now but he was also dead in 1971. Maybe your uncle had good old chemically grown carrots.

[vadawg]

14. lol its still funny mate, he licked in the 60's died in 71, i presume from DDT or was there a car

crash involved,

[era veteran]

17. Rotten gut from cancer

Southern States is a farmers co-op they sold a lot of other great chemicals back then.

[vadawg]

18. dude i know southern states, i have an account there..... hell ill christmas shop there as well...

[era veteran]

19. I've done that

We even have a brand new S.S. close to my place. Great store. Later

[bergie321]

4. officials are preparing for an aerial cull

Sarah Palin's book tour is going down under?

[onethatcares]

15. hell, maybe she can go there and

talk to the aborigines.

[joeybee12]

10. This really sucks, all those animals suffering...n/t

[librechik]

16. I'm going there in Feb--hope they don't stink too bad...