The first camels were brought to Australia from India in 1840 by the British East India Company. These initial imports were part of an experimental endeavor to assess the suitability of camels for the Australian landscape. The early successes in using camels for transportation and exploration prompted further importations from India and other regions.
Over the following decades, the British authorities continued to import camels to support various expeditions and explorations. The camels were used for a range of purposes, including transporting supplies, carrying explorers and their equipment, and facilitating access to remote areas that were otherwise difficult to reach by other means of transport.
By the end of the 19th century, there was a substantial population of camels in Australia. These animals proved invaluable in many ways, contributing to the exploration and development of the country's inland regions. However, with the advent of motorized transportation, the demand for camels declined, leading to the release or abandonment of many of these animals into the wild.
Today, Australia has the largest feral camel population in the world, estimated to be over one million. These camels have become an integral part of the country's ecosystems and landscapes, but they also pose various environmental and economic challenges.