Australian Aboriginal officials approve killing up to 10,000 feral camels

(FASTNEWS | AUSTRALIA) – Aboriginal officials in Australia have approved the killing of up to 10,000 camels as a region battling scorching heat and a long drought deals with animals searching for water.

Officials in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in northwest South Australia agreed to the “aerial cull” after listening to requests for help from residents who said they saw “extremely large groups of camels and other feral animals in and around communities” in the region.

In a statement on Facebook, local government official said camels and other feral – which essentially means wild, undomesticated animals – are searching for water. But camels are the “primary” targets of the cull. Government leaders held a board meeting on Dec. 11 to discuss the animals, and the cull was approved for Wednesday. It will last five days.

“With the current ongoing dry conditions (and) the large camel congregations threatening the APY communities and infrastructure, immediate camel control is needed,” the government body said on Facebook. (usatoday)