Eat the Invaders on ABC and ABC iview S1E4 – Tony learns about the significance of camels in Australia’s lesser-known colonial history, and the Afghan cameleers who helped open lines of trade and transport in arid lands. Today, their population thrives, but they are now considered a threat to livestock.
At a remote cattle station in Western Australia, Tony meets the descendants of these camels and learns the harsh reality of their impact on the environment and infrastructure. This prompts Tony to question why more Australians aren’t eating camel meat.
Tony then meets a Nigerian and a Somalian, both of whom view camels as a gift, reflecting how culture shapes which animals we value as food. After enjoying a homemade camel stew, Tony is convinced that camels belong on Australian menus. He road-tests a camel burger with some self-proclaimed burger aficionados, gauging their reactions.
Consulting invasive biologists Phill Cassey and Andy Lowe, Tony learns about the challenges of expanding the camel meat industry, from logistical barriers to environmental concerns. He begins to see why managing the camel population isn’t a straightforward solution.
Back at Mona, artist Kirsha Kaechele and chef Vince Trim craft a feast that tells the camel’s story through all the senses. Tony is joined by his partner Rona Glynn-McDonald and her father, filmmaker Warwick Thornton. Together, they reflect on how our food choices are deeply intertwined with the health of the environment, and whether camels could be part of a sustainable future.
Production credit:
Commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. A Closer Productions production for the ABC. Principal production funding from Screen Australia and the ABC. Financed with support from the South Australian Film Corporation and Screen Tasmania. International sales by ABC Commercial. Writer and director: Matthew Bate. Executive Producer: Rebecca Summerton. Producer: Sarah Wormald. Creative Producer: Kirsha Kaechele. ABC Commissioning Editor: Kalita Corrigan. ABC Head of Documentary and Specialist: Susie Jones
Eat the Invaders on ABC and ABC iview – Tuesday 28 January at 8.30pm
TV Central ABC content HERE
Eat the Invaders on ABC and ABC iview S1E4
