Fraser Island dingoes: Starvation myth busted as surprising food source revealed
A Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service ranger completing a PhD study says her research dispels a persistent myth about Fraser Island’s dingo population – one that often is cited as a reason why there has been a spate of attacks on humans.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE myth of Fraser Island’s dingoes being starving has been busted by new research that reveals a surprising main food source for the controversial animals.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service ranger Linda Behrendorff is completing a PhD study titled Diet, Ecology and Management of Dingoes on K’gari at the University of Queensland.
The ranger of 20 years has spent much of the past four researching the animals and investigating the results of more than 2500 droppings samples.
Fraser Island considers cull of visitor numbers after dingo attacks
After a recent toddler attack, debate over Dingoes rages
Palaszczuk Government doubles Fraser Island dingo-feeding fines to $10k
DINGO ATTACK: Fraser Island rangers reveal fate of suspects
Fraser Island dingo attack toddler released from hospital
Fraser Island dingo proves Lindy Chamberlain is innocent
Fraser Island management blamed for dingo attack
Ms Behrendorff said this gave a clear indication of what had been digested by the island’s estimated 100 to 200 dingoes and there had been a standout staple.
“Bandicoot was found to be a big part of their diet. They also eat everything from insects and lizards to vegetation, turtle eggs and fish,” she said.
Bandicoots are rat-like in appearance, but have longer, pointed noses, larger ears, and a long, thin tail. They have long, powerful hind legs, which they use to hop around in a rabbit-like fashion.
Fraser has long-nosed and northern varieties of the mammal, considered extremely elusive – unless, of course, you are a stealthy dingo.
Ms Behrendorff said dingoes also had seasonal food sources including whale carcasses, dugongs and turtles that wash up on the beach.
She said her research showed the animals had plenty to eat, dispelling the belief that they were going hungry and a “feeding station” would reduce negative interactions with people.
Adult dingoes on Fraser Island, which stand more than 60cm high and about 1.2m long, were found to have an average weight of about 18kg.
Ms Behrendorff said this was a higher average mass than dingoes from Kakadu (16kg), the Victorian Highlands (15kg) and Central Australia (13kg).
She reinforced recent warnings for visitors not to feed dingoes – either inadvertently through not securing food and rubbish, or deliberately – as that could lead to more problematic behaviour.
Ms Behrendorff also shone a light on how resourceful and clever the Fraser Island dingoes could be.
She said, when attracted to campsites, they had been known to open tent and annex zippers and even undo metal clasps on portable camp fridges. Smelly shoes and boots were a favourite item to steal.
Another observation was that juvenile dingoes were more prone to nuisance behaviour and interactions with humans.
Management of dingoes and how to protect the island’s 400,000 annual visitors has been in the spotlight after a spike in attacks.
The latest, and most shocking, involved a 14-month-old boy dragged from a camper trailer and rescued by his father on Good Friday.
Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch last Friday announced a raft of measures, including massive fines for illegal feeding, greater collaboration with the local Butchulla People, more fenced areas (resorts and some camp sites currently are fenced) and a review of the dingo management strategy that will include a look at visitor numbers.
More than 400,000 people flock to the World Heritage-listed island each year with the Department of Environment and Science saying the island’s maximum camping capacity is 4038, reached during peak holiday periods.
They just sang while she died: Neighbours haunted by religious chants for Elizabeth
For two days the parents of little Elizabeth Struhs and their fellow religious fanatics sang and prayed as she lay dying. Only after her tragic death have neighbours realised what the chants they overheard signified.
Fears Productivity Commission gives LNP license to ‘dissect’ workers’ lives
A new government productivity agency tasked with improving lives will instead be used as a trojan horse to “dissect” the pay and conditions of workers, with powers to inquire into any aspect of Queensland life, opposition MPs say.