She is a dromedary (one humped camel) Bactrians are not found in Australia except in the Zoo.
I acquired her on free lease from the police officer at a small town about 25 miles away. So in fact she is not actually mine, but I can do anything I wish with her other than sell her. She was initially leased to me several years ago because feed was almost non existant where she was being kept and I had plenty. I had known Don her owner for a few years and he was quite surprised how well I worked with his other camels, when I used to help him move them around the countryside.
He also knew that Sweetheart was my favourite, so when feed became a problem he asked if I would take her on free lease. The main reason for this being that several times he had asked if I wanted to keep her, and I said that I thought that my wife might object, (I had just got rid of my last horse, and the wife had ideas for the back paddock) By taking her on free lease I could always bring her back if need be.
Such is the case at the moment, as we are in the middle of what the "experts" are calling a one in a thousand year drought, so at present she is up at Don's property about 100 miles north of here where she has been let loose with her old family to fend for herself in the bush. The price of feed has skyrocketed locally if you can find a farmer who will sell it to you.
I will go through my photos and find a few shots and post them shortly.
It was the middle of Winter, she loses her coat come the warmer weather. This is especially fortunate for the local bird population who take it for nest building.
Did you know that Australia exports camels to Saudi Arabia? Our camels are the world's most disease resistant, and have no physical problems such as those found in countries where they are purpose bred by man. They are highly sought after by the rich Saudis and Kuwaitis to improve their racing stock. Natural selection has done what man could not, it has improved the breed.
Question why on earth would you breed them, when there are so many in the bush running amuck.
And you know as well as I the feral population is causing havoc, I love them don't get me wrong, but the are like big cane toad problem and the water buffalo. Feral animals.
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