Wild dog attacks kills alpacas, llamas in Gold Coast suburbs Tallebudgera and Currumbin

Wild dogs have attacked and killed alpacas and llamas in two Gold Coast suburbs, leaving residents complaining to council their kids are next. Find out where

A string of wild dog attacks leaving a trail of death - two alpacas in Tallebudgera Valley and four llamas Currumbin Valley - has locals fearing their kids will be next.

The most recent wild dog attack on Wednesday left two alpacas dead and another injured on Syndicate Road in Tallebudgera Valley.

Four llamas have been killed in neighbouring Currumbin Valley, on November 15 and December, 10, 11 and 31.

Currumbin’s Helen Crestani, whose had multiple attacks on her property in recent weeks, said of four juvenile llamas killed, two weighed 60kg.

She’s also had an alpaca stud killed.

“We thought we had total dog-proof fences with three rails, diamond mesh and underneath was all at ground level,” Ms Crestani said. “They’re scaling the fences.”

“Llamas are big creatures – to get them down is no easy feat. It must have been a pack.”

The dogs had taken down 14-month-old 50-60kg llamas: “They had eaten everything except for the neck. I’ve lived here since 2011 and I’ve never seen anything on this scale.

“This is a public safety issue – and it’s just gonna be a matter of time when a young kid gets taken.”

Tallebudgera Valley resident Cherie Hugo’s alpaca Chiff had a close call after a vicious wild dog attack.

Tallebudgera Valley resident Cherie Hugo's alpaca Chiff, mauled by wild dogs.

“There were five dogs and they cornered one of the alpacas and just started ripping into him – neighbours disturbed them and somehow scared them off.

“Cliff was really torn apart but through a lot of care he managed to survive,” Ms Hugo said.

“He suffers from anxiety – it was brutal, it was lucky the neighbours managed to intervene.

“There’s a risk there for kids for sure. They’re getting more brazen – normally when the attacks occur it’s very early morning or very late in the evening, but that’s changing from recent reports from the community.

“It’s incredibly concerning, particularly with llamas – they’re large and robust. If they’re actually killing llamas, that’s a risk for children.”

A Gold Coast City Council spokesperson said: “The team conducted a wild dog trapping program on City land in the week prior to Christmas. Monitoring has found low wild dog activity for the last four months.”

Currumbin resident Helen Crestani has lost four juvenile llamas and an alpaca stud as a result of wild dog attacks.

Ms Crestani said: “Funding was approved for a week of trapping in the reserve but they caught one fox – they’re not in that area.”

Ms Crestani and Ms Hugo said the council traps did not work.

“Animal control gave me a trap but nothing goes near it – the only thing that does are the crows that eat the bait,” Ms Crestani said.

”It’s pretty rare you’re going to catch the wild dogs that way, we’ve never had any success when we had traps put on our property.

“You’re kind of like sitting ducks,” Ms Hugo said.

Asked how residents can protect themselves, council responded: “It’s uncommon for a wild dog to attack an adult, however, take extreme care if you are approached by one. Normal precautions should be taken when using walking trails in the Tallebudgera and Currumbin Valleys and warning signs adhered to.”

Originally published as Wild dog attacks kills alpacas, llamas in Gold Coast suburbs Tallebudgera and Currumbin