54 Key stakeholder perceptions P Vaarzon-Morel Report of feral camels: 49 Aboriginal community survey 2008 Key stakeholder perceptions of feral camels: Aboriginal community survey P Vaarzon-Morel 2008 Contributing author information Enquiries should be addressed to: Petronella Vaarzon-Morel: Consulting anthropologist, PO Box 3561, Alice Springs, Northern Territory 0871, Australia. Desert Knowledge CRC Report Number 49 Information contained in this publication may be copied or reproduced for study, research, information or educational purposes, subject to inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. ISBN: 1 74158 096 X (Online copy) ISSN: 1832 6684 Citation Vaarzon-Morel P. 2008. Key stakeholder perceptions of feral camels: Aboriginal community survey. DKCRC Report 49. Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, Alice Springs. Available at http://www.desertknowledgecrc.com. au/publications/contractresearch.html The Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre is an unincorporated joint venture with 28 partners whose mission is to develop and disseminate an understanding of sustainable living in remote desert environments, deliver enduring regional economies and livelihoods based on Desert Knowledge, and create the networks to market this knowledge in other desert lands. For additional information please contact Desert Knowledge CRC Publications Officer PO Box 3971 Alice Springs NT 0871 Australia Telephone +61 8 8959 6000 Fax +61 8 8959 6048 www.desertknowledgecrc.com.au © Desert Knowledge CRC 2008 The project was funded by Australian Government. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Desert Knowledge CRC or its participants. II Desert Knowledge CRC Key stakeholder perceptions of feral camels: Aboriginal community survey Contents Tables IV Figures and graphs .......................................................................................................................................................IV List of shortened forms ................................................................................................................................................. V Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................................................VI 1. Summary .................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................. 4 2. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 7 2.1 The structure of the report ................................................................................................................................. 7 3. Method ...................................................................................................................................................................... 9 3.1 Selection of survey areas .................................................................................................................................. 9 3.2 Characteristics of the survey population ......................................................................................................... 10 3.3 The survey questions ....................................................................................................................................... 11 3.4 Survey delivery and sharing of information .................................................................................................... 12 3.5 Selection of interviewees ................................................................................................................................ 12 3.6 Data collection and analysis ............................................................................................................................ 13 3.7 Survey coverage ............................................................................................................................................. 14 3.8 Challenges and limitations ............................................................................................................................. 15 4. Findings ................................................................................................................................................................... 17 4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 17 4.2 The case studies ............................................................................................................................................... 17 5. Discussion of differences in perspectives among and within Aboriginal communities .......................................... 31 5.1 Observations on camel presence ..................................................................................................................... 31 5.2 Perspectives on camel impacts ........................................................................................................................ 33 5.3 Perspectives on camel management ................................................................................................................ 44 5.4 Implications .................................................................................................................................................... 58 6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................... 65 7. Recommendations .................................................................................................................................................... 67 8. References ............................................................................................................................................................... 69 Appendix 1: Wide range survey information ............................................................................................................... 73 1.1 The Western Australian communities .............................................................................................................. 73 1.2 The South Australian communities ................................................................................................................. 85 1.3 The Northern Territory communities............................................................................................................... 96 Appendix 2: Focus questions for survey with local Aboriginal communities............................................................131 Key stakeholder perceptions of feral camels: Aboriginal community survey Desert Knowledge CRC III Tables Table 1: Community survey coverage ......................................................................................................................23 Table 2: Observations of camel presence and perceived population trends by community .....................................39 Table 3: Summary of observations on camel presence and perceived population trends in surveyed communities ................................................................................................................................40 Table 4: Negative impacts on broader landscape values mentioned by people in survey communities ................................................................................................................................................41 Table 5: Number of communities by state/territory where interviewees mentioned negative impacts on broader landscape values ..........................................................................................................42 Table 6: Positive impacts of feral camels mentioned by some interviewees in survey communities ......................48 Table 7: Positive impacts of camels: type of positive impact by number of settlements in each state/territory .......................................................................................................................................51 Table 8: Attitudes to feral camel management in the survey communities ..............................................................57 Table 9: Attitudes to feral camel management by number of communities in each state/territory ..........................58 Table 10: Main sources of information on feral camels and their management by number of communities in each state/territory .............................................................................................................58 Table 11: Perceived need for assistance and support to manage feral camels, noting types of activities suggested .................................................................................................................................65 Figures and graphs Figure 1: Map of Aboriginal communities surveyed ..................................................................................................21 Figure 2: Aboriginal communities’