K’gari closes campsites following spate of dingo attacks

Several camping zones at K’gari have been temporarily closed due to the recent spate of dingo attacks.

A spate of dingo attacks on K’gari have forced the closure of popular beach camping spots on the island, just weeks after a woman was mauled by a pack as she was running along the shore.

The closures come after a string of serious attacks on both children and adults in the last few months, including two separate attacks on Thursday.

The Department of Environment and Science issued a notice on Friday saying it would temporarily close three of the beach camping areas where some of the attacks happened due to “increased threatening wongari (dingo) activity”.

These areas include camping zones three, four and five, which spans from Poyungan Rocks to The Pinnacles, and encompasses popular Eli Creek. The alert said the closure would be from August 17.

“This closure is necessary to reduce negative dingo interactions and allow for ongoing monitoring and dingo management,” the alert said.

Two women were attacked by different dingoes at Eli Creek on Thursday in separate incidents.

One of the dingoes approached and circled a group of seven adults about 11.45am and lunged at a woman, mouthing her on the thigh.

K'gari dingo attack victim Sarah Peet was bitten nearly 50 times.

Five minutes later, a dingo followed a woman down Eli Creek and bit her on the thigh.

A tourist was also bitten on the buttocks by a dingo in this area in April.

It comes just weeks after Brisbane woman Sarah Peet was set on by a pack of dingoes while she was running along the beach at Orchid Beach – at the north of the island.

Zones around this area have not been included in the closures.

People with camp bookings in these zones were advised they could change their bookings in alternative camping area including zones one, two and six and fenced camping areas at Eli, One Tree, Wongai and Cornwells on Eastern Beach.

Park alert advising campers of the closures

Refunds and system credit were also available.

Campers were reminded of on-the-spot fines of $2476.80 for interacting with dingoes, to keep children within arm’s length and to “never attempt to feed or touch wongari (dingoes)”.

“These are wild animals and can quickly become aggressive. On-the-spot fines of $2476.80 apply for anyone caught feeding or disturbing dingoes anywhere on K’gari,” the alert said.

Other recent attacks include an eight-year-old boy who was pulled from his father’s arms by a dingo and a six-year-old girl who was held under water by a dingo.