Satellites track dingoes

SATELLITE tracking of dingoes on Fraser Island is suggesting wild dog movement on the island runs counter to accepted wisdom about pack behaviour.

SATELLITE tracking of dingoes on Fraser Island is suggesting wild dog movement on the island runs counter to accepted wisdom about pack behaviour.

Department of Environment and Resource Management sources said the emerging data may change dingo management on Fraser Island.

Pressure between government and interest groups is building with the latest figures showing five dingoes were destroyed in the April 1 to June 30 quarter.

These were destroyed after their behaviour towards humans was judged to be aggressive and dangerous.

There were a further 29 incidents of aggressive dingo behaviour including some dingoes attempting to gain access to tents. No injuries to people occurred.

Site risk assessments were undertaken at 77 island sites during this period.

No sites were rated as an extreme risk, four were rated high risk, 16 were rated medium risk, 47 were rated low risk, and 10 were rated very low risk.

Waddy Point is a zone where the risk of contact between dingoes and humans is high.

Moderate risk sites included several beach camping zones between Eurong and Waddy Point and the Maheno and Hook Point day-use areas.

Eighteen dingoes have been fitted with satellite tracking collars which allow ground tracking since April, with one being killed by a vehicle strike.

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Originally published as Satellites track dingoes