K’gari safety blitz to target visitors who flout dingo rules

Visitors to K’gari are being warned they face heavy fines if they flout dingo safety rules as rangers kick off an enforcement blitz, even as the state says it will not increase penalties.

Visitors to K’gari (Fraser Island) who flout dingo safety rules face a heavy fine blitz as rangers ramp up enforcement action following this week’s horrific attack on a woman jogger.

Rangers have already issued thousands of dollars in fines to foolhardy tourists but are warning there will be more for those who continue to deliberately dice with dingo danger.

In the latest in a spate of attacks on K’gari, Brisbane woman Sarah Peet was left in hospital with dozens of bites after she was forced into the water and savagely mauled by a pack of dingoes while running on Orchid Beach on Monday.

A brazen dingo wearing a GPS tracker put in place by rangers. Picture: Picture: Liam Kidston

The pack leader – one of three aggressive male dingoes on the island fitted with GPS tracking collars following a series of “high-risk” incidents – was put down on Wednesday.

Figures obtained by The Courier-Mail reveal 20 fines have been issued this year – compared with 24 for the whole of 2022 – as frustrated authorities try to stop K’gari visitors from putting themselves in harm’s way.

Those penalised include two women who were each recently slapped with $2300 fines for interacting with dingoes, with one of them “recklessly” posing for a selfie with three sleeping dingo pups.

Another four people were hit with $2300 on-the-spot fines for feeding dingoes, despite prominent signs all over the island warning them not to.

Twelve people were given $464 fines for allowing dingoes to access unsecured food or rubbish.

Many of those fined have been dobbed in by other visitors, and officials are urging island-goers to continue to report dangerous behaviour.

Sarah Peet was flown off the island after suffering dozens of bites in the Monday morning attack.

“The rules are designed to keep people and wongari (dingoes) safe and those who ignore the rules can expect a fine or court appearance,” a Department of Environment and Science spokesman said.

Environment Minister Leanne Linard said fines for breaching dingo interaction rules had significantly increased in 2019 and there were no plans to hike them despite the recent attacks.

The fines had risen to $2476 on July 1, up to a maximum of $12,384 for court-ordered penalties.

“Deliberately interacting with dingoes is irresponsible, and rangers will not tolerate it,” she said.

The DES spokesman said it was an offence under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020 to feed a native animal in the wild that was dangerous, venomous or capable of injuring a person.

“Feeding wongari can cause them to become habituated and approach people for food, which can put people and the wongari at risk,” he said.

“We have found most of the PINs (penalty infringement notices) have been issued to men, and rangers are asking residents or visitors to the island to remind their male friends or family members not to break the rules.

Dingo danger signs at Waddy Point on K’gari. Picture: Liam Kidston

“Around 400,000 people visit the island each year, and a small percentage of those visitors are disregarding the safety of the wongari and other residents or visitors.

“Rangers are asking residents and visitors to report all incidents of food availability and deliberate feeding as soon as possible.”

Senior ranger Linda Behrendorff this week said she and her colleagues were doing their best to reinforce safety warnings.

“We are the ones in the trenches, who have been doing this for a long time, trying very hard to educate people and make sure people understand their obligations when they come to K’gari,” she said.

A dingo approaches a fisherman at Orchid Beach on K’gari. Picture: Picture: Liam Kidston

Waddy Point camper Kerri Dinham suggested the park rangers could do with extra manpower not only to control the dingoes but to educate visitors.

“Absolutely some more rangers, or the rangers just having some more help would be good,” Mrs Dinham said.

“Being able to inform the people as much as they can so that we can coexist would help.”

Albany Creek couple Peter and Nicki Harry have been coming to K’gari for more than 40 years, venturing back to when wild brumbies roamed the island.

While the pair know full well of the dangers that dingoes possess, they said international tourists were less aware.

“There are a lot of signs up definitely but they are still a novelty item for a lot of people,” Mr Harris said.

“They look like a puppy dog. Tourists are always wanting a picture for Instagram or TikTok, you name it they want it. And people will feed them,” Mrs Harris said.

“Unfortunately so many international visitors are coming over, and for them it’s part of the attraction.”