Who brought camels to Australia?

Answer 1

Camels are not native to Australia. Australia's huge feral camel problem is a result of some of the early explorers bringing camels over from Afghanistan and surrounding countries to help them explore the desert interior of the continent. It was not uncommon for the explorers and/or the Afghan cameleers to release their camels, or for the camels to escape.

Answer 2

The first camels came to Australia from the Canary Islands in 1840. Nine camels were brought to Australia by explorer John Horrocks. None of these initial camels survived, although the first one lived for six years - long enough to shoot Horrocks. This occurred when the rather bad-tempered beast named Harry lurched to one side while Horrocks was unloading his gun, causing the gun barrel to discharge, right through Horrock's hand and into his jaw. Horrocks died several weeks later from subsequent infection. Harry the camel was then shot.

The next major group of camels was brought out by George Landells, who was the original leader of what later became the Burke and Wills expedition in 1860, together with Afghan cameleers. While some of these died in the unbelievably harsh conditions of the expedition, several are known to have escaped, released by the cameleers to fend for themselves.

Answer 3

The first camels were introduced into Australia in 1840by John Ainsworth Horrocks, who opted to use them in his exploration of the arid interior. Nine camels were imported from the Canary Islands but only one, named Harry, still survived six years later, as little was understood of the camels' needs.

After Harry the camel managed to shoot Horrocks while he was trying to remove his gun from its pack, leading to a lingering and agonising death for Horrocks, the animal was itself shot.

The next large group of camels was brought to Australia by George Landells in 1860 for the purpose of what would be later known as the Burke and Wills' expedition from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria. These were the predecessors of today's wild camels.

Answer 4

Camels were initially introduced to help in the exploration of the vast, unknown interior of Australia.

The first camels were introduced into Australia in 1840 by John Ainsworth Horrocks, who wanted to use them in his exploration of the arid interior, rather than relying on horses, which could not handle the arid inland of Australia as well as camels. Nine camels were imported from the Canary Islands but only one, named Harry, still survived six years later, as little was understood of the camels' needs.

After Harry the camel managed to shoot Horrocks while he was trying to remove his gun from its pack, leading to a lingering and agonising death for Horrocks, the animal was itself shot.

The next large group of camels was brought to Australia by George Landells in 1860 for the purpose of what would be later known as the Burke and Wills' expedition from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria. These were the predecessors of today's wild camels.

Answer 5

The early settlers of Australia found the interior of the continent dry and inhospitable, and too much for horses to endure. Men wanting to explore the interior found it diffI out to travel far because of the limitations of their horses.

The first camels came to Australia from the Canary Islands in 1840. Nine camels were brought for the purpose of aiding the exploration of John Horrocks. None of these initial camels survived, although the first one lived for six years - long enough to shoot Horrocks. This occurred when the rather bad-tempered beast named Harry lurched to one side while Horrocks was unloading his gun, causing the gun barrel to discharge, right through Horrock's hand and into his jaw. Horrocks died several weeks later from subsequent infection. Harry the camel was then shot.

The next major group of camels was brought out by George Landells, who was the original leader of what later became the Burke and Wills's expedition in 1860, together with Afghan cameleers. While some of these died in the unbelievably harsh conditions of the expedition, several are known to have escaped, released by the cameleers to fend for themselves.

An estimated 10,000 to 12,000 more were imported into Australia between 1860 and 1907, and a breeding stud was set up in Beltana, in outback South Australia. These camels were used as draft and riding animals, pioneers of the interior region of Australia, once again with the help of Afghan cameleers, as they were best suited for trade between the south and the northern ports. Breeding continued into the 1920s, when the automobile became used more. Herds of camels were released, and many more escaped during these decades, so there is a significant number of feral camels now in Australia.