Quote:
The dingo is one of about a dozen animals that were introduced to the continent of Australia by English settlers. These animals have mostly been very bad for Australia's ecology, and many of Australia's native animals are in danger of becoming extinct, or are already extinct.
The dingo is nothing more than a pet dog that has returned to the wild. Australians refer to these introduced animals as "ferals."
How many dogs and cats were there in Australia 500 years ago?
None.
Some animals were brought by the settlers on purpose, such as rabbits to hunt, foxes for the fox-hunt, deer and goats to eat, and dogs and cats as pets. Others, like rats and mice, snuck over to Australia as hideaways on the boats. But only one has proved to fit into Australia's eco-system without causing any harm at all.
Very cute - but VERY destructive!
What "feral" animal has not caused any troubles in Australia?
The camel.
Dingos have been so vicious in attacking Australia's indigenous animals, like kangaroos, wallabies and koalas, that the country erected a fence thousands of miles long to keep the dingos from continuing the slaughter. The government also pays people who bring in proof that they have killed a dingo.
But most of the problems with "feral" animals continue to exist. Goats and deer eat the grass that kangaroos need, and their hooves cause erosion of the soil. Wild pigs destroy many native plants. Rabbits, rats and mice have grown in populations to epidemic proportions.
Only the camel creates no problems in Australia. Its padded feet do not erode the soil, and they find their food by browsing the trees, leaving the grass to the kangaroos and other marsupials. They can go without water for extended periods, and the hump of fat on their back allows them to exist when food is scarce.
The health and strength of the camel population in Australia is now better than anywhere else in the world. It is too bad that this sort of success story is the exception to the rule: Men should not fool with Mother Nature.
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There are camels in Australia? I knew there was some great camel toe there, but camels too? I can't recall if I ever learned that back in grade school.
Looks like the notion of owning a dingo pup is a bad one. I may have to choose another breed of dog and just name it "Dingo".
Then I can go around saying "The dingo ate yo babay" :D