US anchor labels Aussie PM a ’serial killer’ for culling camels

SYDNEY - Erin Burnett, an anchor on American financial news channel CNBC, has labeled Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd a serial killer on US TV, after the Aussie government’s decision to spend 19 million dollars to cull feral camels in the outback.

According to a report in the Age, a stern-faced Burnett said during a segment on CNBC, “There is a serial killer in Australia and we are going to put a picture up so we can see who it is.”

A large photo of Rudd was then shown.

“That would be the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd,” Burnett said. “OK, well, do you know what he is doing? He has launched air strikes - air strikes - against camels in the outback,” she said.

Burnett, with a stuffed toy camel in front of her, broke away from her usual analysis of stock movements on Wall St to vent about the camel cull.

She raised the issue during a segment with CNBC’s colourful financial guru Jim Cramer.

Burnett said that there were a million camels living wild in Australia and the animals would be shot.

“They are slaughtering them?” Cramer, looking shocked, asked Burnett. “They are slaughtering them,” Burnett replied.

She also complained the meat and milk from the camels would be wasted.

“Apparently, there is a billion dollars of meat out there,” Burnett said.

“Are they going to do anything with it?” Cramer asked. “No. They’re just slaughtering them,” she said.

“That’s genocide. Camelcide,” Cramer commented.

Burnett then told Cramer she hoped Australians would see her segment.

Camels, which now number more than one million, are destroying fragile ecosystems and trampling all over indigenous sacred sites.

They foul ancient water holes and chomp through the boughs of endangered native trees.

Traveling in large, aggressive packs, they prevent Aboriginal women from venturing into the countryside, for fear of being attacked or trampled.

The situation is expected to get worse, with the camel population predicted to double every eight to 10 years unless action is taken.

The problem has grown so large that the Australian government recently pledged 10 million pounds towards developing a camel control plan, which is expected to involve shooting them from helicopters. (ANI)