‘High risk’ K’gari (Fraser Island) dingo destroyed, environmental organisation reveals

A “high-risk” K’gari dingo has been destroyed and another is being closely monitored just weeks after a spate of attacks on the island, triggering calls for humans to do more to prevent further attacks.

Rangers will increase their patrols on K’gari over the school holidays after a dingo who was involved in six high risk attacks was euthanised.

The dingo’s latest attack was on August 26 when it bit a woman who was standing alone. Since May, the dingo almost attacked a four-year-old boy, grabbed the tracksuit of a woman, jumped at the chest of a girl and attempted to bite another person.

A second dingo is also being “closely monitored”.

Over the school holidays Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services rangers and Butchulla rangers will ramp up their efforts.

A Department of Environment and Science statement said before making the decision to euthanise the dingo steps were made to manage the dingo’s behaviours.

“This included collaring the dingo in July 2023 to enable rangers to better monitor its behaviour and movements, and in August 2023 rangers closed camping areas in the dingoes preferred range to minimise the risks of increased habitation.”

Dingos at Orchid Beach, K’gari. Picture: Liam Kidston

“Rangers also asked visitors to avoid preparing or consuming food and sunbaking lying down at Eli Creek and lakeshores areas.

In June there were three collared dingoes, there is now only one left with the others being euthanised.

A statement from Save the Fraser Island Dingoes (SFID) revealed “reports continue” of people flaunting the rules, children left on their own, visitors enticing and feeding the animals while others are chasing them with ‘dingo’ sticks and other implements.

“This is sending mixed messages and only causing more confusion to the everyday pressures that confront the dingoes trying to survive on their Island home,” the statement read.

“It is disappointing and disheartening that, once again, we are destroying ‘problem’ animals as was the practice not so many years ago.

“These animals are usually the stronger and bolder of the group therefore we really don’t know the consequences of removing them from the population. Killing is not a sustainable or acceptable option.”

The second tagged dingo was also part of many of the high-risk interactions.

“In recent weeks, rangers have stepped up patrols to monitor both animals, and rangers will continue to closely monitor the second dingo before making any further management decisions,” the statement said.

“Euthanising a high-risk dingo is a last resort, but this decision is in line with the Fraser Island Dingo Conservation and Risk Management Strategy, and part of QPWS’s commitment to ensure the safety of everyone who visits or lives on the island.”