Fraser Island elders blast tourists for ‘reckless’ dingo pictures

These are the photos that have put the Fraser Island community into a spin following a dingo attack on a toddler on Friday.

BRAZEN photos – including one taken just millimetres from a dingo’s face – were uploaded to social media from Fraser Island in the days leading up to an attack of a sleeping toddler.

The “reckless” images have prompted outrage from members of the island’s community, who say people still aren’t getting the message about how dangerous the beasts can be.

A simple social media search yesterday revealed that more than a dozen ­photos of face-to-face encounters with dingoes have been uploaded this year.

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One showed a dingo less than a metre away from a little girl last week.

An Instagram image of a dingo on Fraser Island.

The image included the hashtag #yesthechildrenweresafe.

It is a criminal offence to attract the attention of a dingo and penalties apply.

The State Government announced yesterday that dingo education would be urgently reviewed in the wake of an attack on a sleeping toddler on Friday.

The 14-month-old boy was pulled 15m from his camper trailer by a dingo that had managed to climb inside at Eurong, on the ­island’s eastern side.

A Fraser Island dingo. Picture: Shaun Desmond from Facebook

His father managed to wrestle him free and scare off the dingo’s pack, according to paramedics.

The child suffered a fractured skull and has undergone surgery in Brisbane.

He remains in a stable condition.

The family was camping outside the fenced area when they were set upon, a ranger said.

Aboriginal elders from the area said that the ­current dingo education program simply wasn’t working.

“We would like to remind people that our traditional homeland is a pristine wilderness, which has dangerous animals that could harm your loved ones,” a statement from the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation said.

A dingo picture taken on Fraser Island. Picture: Jules Blackmore from Facebook

“Unfortunately, there has already been three incidents this year, which potentially could have been avoided.

“It is time that people are more accountable for the ­actions – Wongaris (dingoes) should not be sacrificed for human error or inciting interaction.”

A spokesman from the Department of Environment and science said that “Education and compliance is a major factor in keeping visitors safe on the island, and rangers work closely with traditional owners – Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation – to ensure all visitors and residents on K’gari are dingo-safe.”

Authorities were yesterday still trying to ­capture the dingo responsible for biting the ­toddler. It is the third dingo-related injury on Fraser Island this year.