The Australian government appears to be seriously considering a culling-for-carbon-credits plan to reduce the methane emissions from the estimated 1.2 million wild camels roaming the outback. Earlier today we reported that domestic cats in parts of Sydney have a curfew. Now camels are in trouble for burping and farting too much.

Australia is considering three submissions as part of its Carbon Farming Initiative legislation to generate credits for sale to companies wanting to offset their pollution.

Adelaide-based Northwest Carbon, a land and animal management consultant group, have proposed the plan that may see cash generated from camel culling. It will be debated along with other climate legislation next week.

Northwest Managing Director Tim Moore said in an interview with Rishaad Salamat on Bloomberg Television’s On the Move Asia:

[Culling wild animals is] a critically important part of the solution to climate change and bringing Australia along with the rest of the global community in reducing emissions.

According to a specially commissioned report, a camel emits about 45kg of methane a year on average. This is the methane equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide a year, or a sixth of that of a car, making them collectively one of Australia’s major emitters of greenhouse gases.

Moore doesn’t appear too afraid of what animal rights groups might have to say either:

We’re a nation of innovators and we find innovative solutions to our challenges – this is just a classic example.

The animals were introduced to Australia sometime during the late 1800s to help with exploration and provide supplies to remote mines and settlements.

Kevin Rudd, a former Australian Prime Minister, and his government first proposed this concept in 2009 that sought to curb Australia’s unnecessary carbon emissions.

Northwest proposes culling the camels by shooting them, or mustering the animals and sending them to an abattoir, according to its proposal.

The meat will then be processed for animal or human consumption.

[Source: Bloomberg]