Wild camels

Australia is now the only country in the world that still has a population of wild camels.

They are not native australian animals, but descendants of the Afghan camels that helped the early colonists cross the barren, hot interior desert.

Once the big railways that cross the continent were in place the camels were set free and they now roam the desert.

Altough, to hear the australians they're not doing good things since they crowd out the local animals in the fight for scarce resources and sometimes even attack humans in their quest for food - see article here.

Still, we've heard only good things about the camel meat, apparently the filet mignon is exquisite. I'm still trying to find some camel meat down here in Melbourne and I'll let you know. But if you go in Alice Springs, by all means don't repeat our mistake and go and eat camel in the many restaurants there that offer it :)