Animal welfare groups have accused the Australian government of being "trigger happy" over plans to shoot 6,000 camels that invaded an outback town in search of water.
The animals have caused chaos in the Northern Territory town of Docker River, smashing water tanks, destroying fences and approaching houses. State officials have described the siege as a "critical situation" and warned that the town did not "have the luxury of time", after the camels blocked the town's airstrip – preventing medical evacuations – and began to contaminate the water supply.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) and Animals Australia said the cull would cause "terrible suffering" to the animals.
The drama began when 30 camels approached the town, known as Kaltukatjara to its mostly indigenous population, more than a month ago. More followed looking for water, and soon thousands of the animals – which can grow up to 2.1 metres (7ft) tall and weigh 900kg ...