(07) 4658 0600

Camels ‘chow down’ prickly acacia

May 22, 2025News, Trial

Can camels stop the spread of Prickly Acacia?

The answer is: Yes!

A three-year trial to control prickly acacia near Hughenden has found a small camel herd can be “hugely successful” at controlling the spread of the weed’s seeds.

Prickly acacia is one of Australia’s worst weeds, spreading across 21 million hectares of Outback Queensland since it was introduced in the 1920s.

Camels have shown a preference for prickly acacia flowers and seedpods, and will destroy the seeds they consume to effectively stop the spread of seeds.

It’s great news.

“Camels have joined the prickly acacia toolkit,” said DCQ Operations Manager Geoff Penton said.

“Managing camels can be a challenge, but they’re efficient, they’re cost-effective and they work to stop the spread of prickly acacia seed.”

What the results say

 The trial found:

  • Camels, while considered an invasive pest, can be stocked and managed to control Prickly Acacia because they have a preference for the species’ flowers and seedpods.

  • Camels show a low preference for pasture grasses (e.g. Mitchell Grass), which makes up 5% of their diet, meaning they can be stocked alongside cattle.

  • The recommended stocking rate for camels is one head per 1,000 prickly acacia stems, based on the diet preferences of camels.
  • Camels do not kill prickly acacia trees, but do effectively stop their spread by consuming and destroying seeds.
  • Camels prefer prickly acacia densities below 500 stems per hectare with further trials to investigate the impact of higher stocking rates on density.
  • Unlike other animals, prickly acacia seeds do not transfer into camel feces.

Desert Channels Queensland began the trial in 2021 in a paddock near Hughenden, which contained more than 23,000 mature prickly acacia trees.

The conclusion

Weed spraying and camel stocking have proven effective at killing dense prickly acacia populations and are another tool for stopping the spread of the invasive weed.

Read the full study here.

A pack of camels stand tall in the heat of an Aussie outback day.
Camels chomp on prickly acacia trees in Western Queensland.
A wildlife camera spots some camels chomping on a prickly acacia infestation near a dam.

Night parrot listed as ‘critically endangered’ as monitoring underway

An elusive, rare parrot in the Desert Channels region that was once thought to be extinct.

Free water quality testing of bores, springs in Western Queensland

Over the next 12 months, DCQ can test your bore or spring water quality at no cost.

Photos: Fast-moving bushfires a ‘real possibility’ in Western Qld this season

The Qld Rural Fire Service is concerned fires will be more dangerous than usual.

More funding to cap and pipe bores announced for Queensland

Up to 90% of your estimated eligible project costs could be covered. 

Emu chicks hatch and reveal ‘extraordinary’ role of emu dads

A rare moment caught on camera – emu chicks hatch in Western Queensland.

GAZING AND GRAZING INTO THE FUTURE

A project dedicated to assisting the progression of the grazing industry into the future is one that deserves close attention and support from all involved in the industry. One of 10 projects under the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program...

Springs

Lying beneath parts of the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, and New South Wales, the Great Artesian Basin, (GAB) is Australia’s largest groundwater basin and one of the largest underground freshwater resources in the world.

Watertight

The Queensland Government has established the WaterTight program to be carried out by the Natural Resource Management groups

WATER QUALITY

This water quality project delivers a strategic approach to ensure clean water essential for community services. It also fosters improvements in waterway health.

Invasive Cactus

Cactus weeds have become more aggressive in our region due to climate shifts, drought and rainfall variability.

SEEDY BUSINESS

Sometimes, even mother nature needs a hand. Having perfected Prickly Acacia control, we have begun seeding work to “turbo charge” pasture recovery.

SUCCESS IN THE MAKING

With the summer rain, plants are now leaping out of the ground.

THORNVILLE QUANDARY

When pastures don’t return as expected.

IS DIESEL BECOMING A THING OF THE PAST?

The increased cost of diesel, along with its health and environmental issues, has opened the door for a new kind of herbicide.

THE TECH SAVY DESERT RAT

iPads are not just toys for us. They’ve become critical tools in recording our data and helping us to refine our mapping.