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NRM Case Studies |
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Gascoyne / Murchison Region |
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Home » Our NRM Outcomes » Southern Rangelands » Camels
Camels |
| ‘Understanding the population genetics of feral camel populations' |
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PROJECT SYNOPSIS
Project commencement: 1 May 2008
Project completion: 30 June 2009
Total project investment: $200,000
PROJECT AIM
This project will result in a greater understanding of the camel population and the impacts their presence is having on natural resource assets and the pastoral community.
Information generated will allow for the development and implementation of cost-effective control measures, resulting in significant benefits to biodiversity conservation and asset protection in the semi-arid and arid regions of Australia.
KEY OUTCOMES
Population genetics: The genetic structure of the camel population in WA will be mapped and a scientific paper produced to promote the results.
Camel Movements: Movement data will be collected and documented within a 'Google Earth' environment. The movement pathways and analysis of data will also be documented.
Assets at Risk: A series of maps will be generated documenting the assets at risk.
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This project will also provide sophisticated and cost-effective techniques for monitoring camel populations to determine the effectiveness of control measures whilst identifying the assets that are at greatest threat from camels.
"This will make a significant contribution to our understanding of feral camels and how they should be managed in WA and Australia."
Dr Andrew Woolnough
Manager, Vertebrate Pest Research Section,
Department of Agriculture and Food
THE CHALLENGES
The key challenges for this project included:
- Camels occur in remote areas so project work is expensive and their nomadic behaviour imposes a risk for field work
- Lack of data and information
- Maintaining continuity within the team due to the project's remote nature
KEY ACTIVITIES
Population genetics: We will use networks to undertake the opportunistic of camel samples from control work followed by a genetic analysis at Murdoch University to analyse and interpret results.
Came movements: We have selected an area to deploy satellite collars and undertake a collaring exercise which is a considerably demanding exercise that includes the engagement of a consultant veterinarian from Queensland. We will monitor the movement of camels and then analyse and interpret the data.
Assets at Risk: We will employ a specialist to undertake the work, source data, identify gaps in the data and produce a report.
This project was made possible through assistance from:
- Population genetics - Dr Peter Spencer, Senior Lecturer, Murdoch University
- Camel Movements - Dr Andrew Woolnough, DAFWA
- Assets at Risk
- Nishita Parmar / Andrew Woolnough, DAFWA
Camels Case Study - (Pdf 360KB)
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