Man fined more than $2000 for feeding K’gari dingo

A man filmed hand feeding two wongari on K’gari has been fined heavily in the wake of 25 incidents of high risk dingo activity this year, and 136 cases of threatening behaviour. Watch the video:

A man has been fined after intentionally feeding two wongari (dingoes) on K’gari and ignoring the well-known rules of the island in order to prevent further dangerous human-wongari interactions.

The 58-year-old Queenslander, wearing a high-vis jacket and aqua shorts, was filmed at Eastern Beach near Poyungan Valley kneeling down as one wongari come up and ate something he had placed on the sand in front of him.

A few seconds later another wongari trots towards him and he appears to hand feed the animal.

The video, taken by a member of the public on September 7, 2023 was shared by the Department of Environment and Sciences in a press release on Wednesday.

The man was tracked down by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers the next day and issued with a $2476 fine, the statement said.

The man knew he was breaking the rules and rangers thanked the person who filmed and provided the information to them, manager of compliance optimisation Mike Devery said.

“This man has made a dangerous decision to feed and interact with wongari, and his actions could cause legacy issues on the island,” Mr Devery said.

It comes in an ongoing human v wongari conflict which only has losers.

A DES spokesperson said there had be 25 incidents of high-risk wongari behaviour and 136 incidents of threatening behaviour this year alone.

On top of this, three habitualised, high-risk wongari have sadly had to be put down this year, one of them, only just this past weekend.

“Our number one priority is to keep people on K’gari safe and conserve the population of wongari and this man has potentially put lives at risk,” Mr Devery said.

“One wongari that is becoming habituated can influence their pack – this man has fed two of them and we make no apology for handing out fines to people for their irresponsible behaviour.”

A DES spokesperson said they had issued 25 fines this year to visitors in relation to wongari interaction.

“QPWS rangers are extremely frustrated by this man, because each day we deliver Be Dingo-safe! messaging to visitors and campers,” Mr Devery said.

“And that includes never deliberately feeding wongari and never interacting with them, which this man has completely ignored.

“Residents and visitors to the island must not behave in a way that puts themselves, other people or wongari at risk.

“Most residents and visitors to the island do not accept this type of behaviour, and rangers receive a lot of information from members of the public about inappropriate behaviour around wongari.”

People are encouraged to be dingo-safe and report any concerning dingo encounters by calling 07 4127 9150 or emailing [e-mail]

Residents and visitors to the island are advised to Be Dingo-safe! all times.

Always stay close (within arm’s reach) of children and young teenagers

Always walk in groups

Camp in fenced areas where possible

Do not run. Running or jogging can trigger a negative dingo interaction

Never feed dingoes

Lock up food stores and iceboxes (even on a boat)

Never store food or food containers in tents, and

Secure all rubbish, fish and bait.