Desperate times call for desperate measure and because of the on-going bushfires in Australia, about 10,000 camels are threatened to be shot and killed as complaints of camels terrorizing locals while searching for water pile up.
READ: Heatwave in NSW, Australia Caused By Bushfire Destroys Many Homes
WHY ARE CAMELS TERRORIZING PEOPLE IN THIS SMALL COMMUNITY IS SOUTH AUSTRALIA?
Officials from the remote areas in the northwestern part of South Australia approved of the action and was set to begin by Wednesday of this week and will last for five days. In a memo posted on Facebook by the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunythathatra, it is said that a large group of camels and feral animals are putting pressure on the remote communities in their desperate search for water. The memo also added, "with the current on-going dry conditions the large camel congregations threatening the APY communities and infrastructure, camel control is needed." Professional shooters are hired to kill thousands of these large mammals. In a recent report by CNN, at least 10,000 cameras are at risk to be shot.
South Australia has suffered from high temperatures for weeks and experienced bushfires with smoke covering the skies. In a statement made by Marita Baker, board member of the APY, she explained that the community has been suffering in a "stinking hot and uncomfortable conditions" and the people have been feeling unwell all because these camels are coming in, knocking down their fences and going inside the house in search of water. Some even try to acquire water from the air conditioner inside the houses.
To understand the frustration of the community, it is fair to give a background on the APY region. The region is one of the most extremely remote areas in South Australia and only 2,300 people are living in it. However, there are at least 1 million camels believed to be occurring in the whole country and their population is rapidly increasing. Also, camels are not the only species of animals suffering in the heat caused by the bushfires in Australia. During the last week, videos of animals approaching humans for water have been surfacing all over the Internet. Another viral video shown by a man driving in Batlow, New South Wales and filmed both sides of the road and saw burnt remains of animals. News outlets are filled with stories of animals approaching humans for water and one of the stories stood out is a video of a koala asking a biker for water.
There are estimated hundreds of millions of animals were killed by the bushfires in Australia and although there is nothing new with bushfires, its intensity has been getting worse and the fires itself are getting more and more destructive. Scientists from all over the world predicted that these bushfires are undeniably the effects of climate change. Earlier this week, reports of arson circulated the Internet but the authorities are quick to dismiss the rumor. This is probably the worst bushfire in the recorded history of the country as 24 people are reported to be dead and more than 2000 homes damaged and around 8 million hectares burned.