Australian gov't. considers trimming camel population

SYDNEY (AP) - August 10, 2009 -- The Australian government is considering a proposal to allow marksmen in helicopters to hunt down and kill thousands of camels in Australia's remote outback.

The goal would be to cut down the population of the havoc-wreaking creatures.

Camels were first introduced into Australia in the 1840s to help explorers travel through the Australian desert.

There are now about 1 million camels roaming the country and the population is doubling every nine years.

Camels compete with sheep and cattle for food, trample vegetation and invade remote settlements in search of water, scaring residents as they tear apart bathrooms and rip up water pipes.

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