Camels are extremely intelligent, friendly animals that love to be around humans. Because of this, many people in Australia keep them as pets or farm animals, and camel ownership has significantly increased over the last few years.

These animals have great value as they have multiple purposes, from being pets to providing milk, racing, or increasing tourism. However, these animals can frequently be hard to find and can be pricey.

So, how much does owning a camel in Australia cost? You can expect to pay $50–$75 when adopting a camel or $1,000–$2,000 if you buy one from a reputable breeder.

Keep reading to learn more about the expenses of owning a camel in Australia, possible ways of bringing home a new camel, and how to save money when owning a camel.

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Bringing Home a New Camel: One-Time Costs

Typically, the price of a camel will vary based on its breed and age. Another factor is the trainability of the camel, as trained camels commonly cost more than those left untrained.

However, there are also options for adopting a camel which we’ll discuss below.

Free

Typically, there’s no way to get a camel for free unless you find a wild camel and domesticate it yourself, which would require a lot of time and effort. In Australia and most other parts of the world, owning a camel typically means buying it from a reputable breeder.

camel standing outdoor
Image Credit: Piqsels

Adoption

  • $50–$75

We looked for adoption options for camels in Australia, but unfortunately, we couldn’t find any in which you get to take the animal home. Instead, there are adoption options where you pay a certain amount to a zoo that goes into taking care of a specific camel which becomes “your animal.”

However, as Australia has an issue with the overpopulation of camels, actual adoption is becoming more and more frequent. Still, to adopt a camel in Australia, you need to have adequate conditions for camels, including:

Council requirements can vary per region, so you’ll need to reach out to your city council to check which conditions are necessary to adopt a camel. Many regions require you to have a lot of unencumbered, building-free land and a livestock permit.

Wild Bactrian Camel
Image Credit: Maria, Pixabay

Breeder

  • $1,000–$2,000

Buying a camel from a reputable breeder in Australia will typically cost between $1,000–$2,000. This price is relatively low compared to the prices of camels in other parts of the world, like the USA. Camels there can cost over $10,000, which is exceptionally high.

The final price of your camel will vary based on:

  • Its breed
  • Its age
  • If the camel is trained or not

However, Australia has an issue with camel overpopulation which is why their camels are much cheaper.

Initial Setup and Supplies

  • $200–$5,000

Typically, you don’t need a bunch of stuff to own a camel. However, you need adequate shelter and fencing, which are the most expensive options on the list. If you already have a proper fence and shelter, the cost of owning a camel will only be a couple of hundred dollars.

People who don’t have adequate housing and fencing for camels will need to spend more money to prepare their environment for camels and make it comfortable for living.

Camels in Arabia
Image Credit: Yasser El Dershaby, Shutterstock

List of Camel Care Supplies and Costs

Vaccinations:$60+
Fencing:$1,000+
Shelters:$2,000+
Food:$100–$200
Grooming brush:$20
Water barrels:$50

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How Much Does a Camel Cost Per Month?

  • $100–$300 per month

The monthly costs of owning a camel are typically quite low. These animals are low-maintenance, and they don’t need a lot of food and water. Also, your costs will be significantly lower if you have natural food and water resources.

To help you understand all the costs of owning a camel better, we’ve broken them down into several separate sections you can check out below.

Health Care

  • $0–$50 per month

Camels don’t require any type of special health care, so their needs are quite similar to horses and other cattle. Your camel will need regular vaccinations and worming, but besides that, there are not many healthcare costs, so they typically range up to $50 per month.

However, if your camel gets sick, you’ll need to take it to the vet and get an estimate based on the condition it’s suffering from.

Food

  • $50–$70 per month

Camels mostly feed on vegetation including grass and oat hay. However, camels in the wilderness will also frequently chew on bones and flesh as that provides them with enough minerals and nutrients for their daily activities.

Typically, as camels are mostly herbivorous, you won’t have to spend tons of money on their food. In fact, most people that keep camels have large open areas with vegetation, so they don’t even spend money on hay and similar foods. If you don’t have any vegetation on your premises, you can expect to pay between $50–$70 per month for feeding your camel.

camels carrying goods
Image Credit: Piqsels

Grooming

  • $0–$50 per month

Camels don’t have regular grooming costs like a dog, or a cat would have. However, you should be in charge of grooming your camel regularly, which includes spending money on maintenance, including:

  • Grooming brush
  • Specialized shampoo

You should brush and bathe your camel weekly as they dislike being dirty. Also, regular grooming will allow you to inspect your camel’s coat and skin for possible bites or skin conditions. Camels typically enjoy bath time and being brushed, so regular grooming will allow you to bond with your camel and become closer.

Medications and Vet Visits

  • $0–$50 per month

There are no strict medications you should give to your camel, but it does have to go through deworming at 2-month intervals. Besides that, there is no need for vet visits unless there’s something wrong with your camel.

Vet checkups have similar prices to if you had a cow or a horse, but the price may vary depending on your location and the issue you’re dealing with.

Arabian Camel
Image Credit: Rajesh Vattekat, Pixabay

Pet Insurance

  • $0 per month

Typically pet insurance companies in Australia cover pets, including:

  • Dogs
  • Cats
  • Small mammals
  • Reptiles
  • Birds

However, we couldn’t find any insurance companies that include camels on their list of pets you can insure, so you won’t have to spend money on this service.

Environment Maintenance

  • $0–$50 per month

The overall environmental maintenance costs of owning a camel are pretty low. Once you spend the initial amount on making an adequate shelter and fencing to keep camels in your residence, you’ll only need to spend money on food and water.

As you need a lot of land to own a camel, you probably already have vegetation which would also decrease the costs you need to spend on camel food.

camel walking on seaside
Image Credit: Piqsels

Entertainment

  • $0–$20 per month

When it comes to camel entertainment, you won’t have to spend a lot of money on it. Typically, camels don’t like to play like other animals, so buying them toys and similar items won’t work. You can offer them trees or shrubs they commonly like and hang them above their heads, so they have to reach to get them.

That would be an inexpensive activity that will keep your camels engaged.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Camel in Australia

  • $100–$300 per month

Overall, owning a camel in Australia is relatively inexpensive. You do have to prepare yourself for higher initial setup costs if you don’t have a suitable environment for camels, but that’s the only thing that can be pricey. Besides those costs, owning a camel is typically cheap yet rewarding, which is why this is a great animal companion.

A young camel with its mother
Image Credit: chris clark, Pexels

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Additional Costs to Factor In

Behavioral Training

  • $1,400 per month

Commonly, when buying a camel, you can choose if you want a trained camel or an untrained camel. Trained camels cost more, but even if you choose an untrained camel to save on costs, you’ll still need to enroll it in behavioral training.

That way, your camel will learn to listen to your commands, allowing you to use your camel for transportation and other activities.

Camel training with professional trainers in Australia typically costs around $720 for 14 days of training, meaning it would cost around $1,400 every month.

Bactrian Camel
Image Credit: Dušan, Pixabay

Owning a Camel on a Budget

Even people on a budget can own camels, especially if they already have open yet shielded areas on their premises. That way, there’s no need to make a shelter or spend money on expensive fencing.

Also, you could make money from your camel by selling its milk or making camel milk products which are highly valued in the world. Owning a camel is usually inexpensive, so you can endure having this animal even when on a budget.divider-multipet

Conclusion

You should consider many things before purchasing a camel and be prepared. Ensure you have the needed space and enrich your environment so the camel can enjoy and live a normal life as it would in the wilderness. While the starting costs can be expensive for people who need to prepare their environment for a new camel, caring for these animals is typically cheap.


Featured Image Credit: Bandurka, Shutterstock