WATCH: Dingoes tear at tents, stalk tourists in terrifying new era on K’gari

An exclusive special video investigation reveals the dingo threat on K’gari (Fraser Island) with the wild dogs tearing at tents and tourists forced to arm themselves with sticks. WATCH THE VIDEO NOW

• K’gari shock: ‘We won’t go back’

Visitors to K’gari (Fraser Island) are being armed with government-issued “dingo sticks” to fight off wild dogs as the hunt for the animals responsible for the latest terrifying attack ramps up.

Bins filled with PVC pipes fashioned into dingo-repelling weapons and dingo safety warnings have been installed at resorts and campsites on the World Heritage-listed island by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

A brazen dingo attacking a tent at an Eli Creek camp site. Picture: Liam Kidston

K’gari’s dingo-proof fence network, complete with electrified wire and grids, was also recently extended amid increasing attacks and aggressive behaviour from rogue elements of the island’s 100-200-strong dingo population.

The beefed-up safety measures come as 23-year-old Brisbane woman Sarah Peet remains in hospital after she was viciously set upon by a pack of dingoes while jogging on 75 Mile Beach on K’gari on Monday morning.

Ms Peet, an urban designer with the Moreton Bay Regional Council, was “corralled” into the water by the dogs in a savage attack that left her with up to 30 bites including a deep laceration to her arm.

Two men in a 4WD stopped to rescue her, punching the dingoes with their bare hands to get them off her.

Sarah Peet was attacked by a pack on dingoes on K'gari on July 17.

One of the animals responsible has been identified as one of three dingoes fitted with GPS tracking collars by rangers following recent attacks, including one on a 6-year-old girl who was dragged into the water at Waddy Point in April.

A brazen dingo prowling an Eli camp site, K’gari. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Courier-Mail visited K’gari last week and saw another of the collared dogs tearing into a tent and prowling beach campsites with a female companion.

Campers who were off exploring the island when the dingoes entered but returned to find their tent shredded were shocked at the animals’ boldness.

“It’s quite intimidating seeing the dogs … and they’re not small dogs,” NSW visitor Tom Jenner said as we showed him the vision of the dingo attacking his tent.

Another Eli Creek camper said he had seen a dingo tear open a swag tent, pull out a pillow and rip it to shreds on the beach.

NSW visitors Toby McGrath, 15, and Bailey Kotzur, 16, with their Dingo Sticks at the Dingo Stick dispenser at the gates of Eurong township. K’gari. Picture: Liam Kidston

Dingos have been circling and chasing 4WDs and even joy flight planes landing and taking off from the beach.

Air Fraser Island pilot Bailey Hiscox said the dingoes were “a lot more aggressive this year than they were last year”, especially around Eli Creek, and rangers had put out buckets of dingo sticks.

Dingoes show no fear as a tourist bus approaches. Picture: Liam Kidston

“Now that Covid’s finished, a lot more people are on the island,” he said.

“That means a lot more tourists, a lot more people who aren’t quite aware about being dingo safe. That can obviously increase the attacks.

“I have had a few dingoes that like to chase the plane. If the dingoes do get in the way of the plane, we just abort the takeoff.”

Brazen dingoes at Eli Creek interacting with humans. Picture: Liam Kidston

Toby McGrath, 15, and Bailey Kotzur, 16, who were visiting K’gari last week with their families from Wagga Wagga in southern NSW, armed themselves with dingo sticks for a walk on the beach after a close encounter with a dingo during their stay.

“This kid was sitting down on the beach at Eli Creek and we were all yelling at him because we could see a dingo near him … next thing you know, it was right next to him,” Toby said.

“It’s a bit of a worry. It’s interesting to see the dingoes in the wild but also a bit scary because you’ve got to watch your back.”