Why don they export camels to the Middle East?
In order to export live camels to any country there must be a bilateral trade agreement in place, between the Australian Government, represented by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the government of the potential importing country. The bilateral agreement covers all aspects of the management of live animals from mustering, holding, feed-lotting, shipment conditions, then how they are treated, including slaughtering conditions once they have been off-loaded in the receiving country. At this point, the only country with which we have a bilateral agreement for the live export of camels is Libya. All viable proposals to export camels to the Middle East will be carefully considered. Where there is a market and this is possible, it may be a good solution for a relatively small reduction in camel numbers. The total number of camels exported live from 1988 to 2007 was 4761, an average of approximately 250 head annually. In 2007 this figure was 363 head. The majority (7
