Police hunt for Outback camel killer

DARWIN - Up to 30 camels have been slaughtered in a "thrill kill" in Outback Australia, police said.

The camels and several kangaroos were found dead at Henbury Station, about 140km south of Alice Springs in Central Australia.

They had been shot in the head in what police described as a "deliberate and calculated attack".

"The camels were partly domesticated and were in fenced paddocks, so it would have been easy for the offender to pick them off," Kulgera police sergeant Alistair Taylor said.

"What concerns us is the deliberate approach of the offender.

"All the animals were head shot and it appears the killings were committed just for fun."

Camel Industry Association executive officer Peter Seidel said he was appalled by the killings.

Most of the camels had been destined for export to Brunei, with the consignment worth between A$15,000 ($16,711) and $20,000.

"It's totally senseless," Seidel said. "This is just a cruel, senseless act. I don't know what sort of thrill they would get out of doing it - it's not like hunting."

The camels were partly domesticated, having been trained and treated before their export.

- AAP