Wallaby attack pushes call to shut dog beaches on Bribie Island

GRAPHIC CONTENT: Wildlife rescuers are calling for stricter regulations on dog beaches north of Brisbane after a wallaby was mauled to death.

Members of Bribie and District Wildlife Rescue had to euthanase the swamp wallaby.

WILDLIFE rescuers are calling for stricter regulations on Bribie Island’s off-leash dog beaches after a swamp wallaby was attacked at Red Beach last week.

Patron Ian Bell said he and fellow members of the Bribie and District Wildlife Rescue were called to the injured animal last Tuesday after a large off-leash dog lunged at a wallaby’s head leaving a horrific scene for volunteers.

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“Swamp wallabies are rare around here and it was very upsetting to have to euthanase it,” Mr Bell said.

Members of Bribie and District Wildlife Rescue had to euthanase the swamp wallaby.

“Walking a dog off-leash along Red Beach is currently permitted by Moreton Bay Regional Council’s regulations, but this incident is the last straw.

“It has come to the point where this privilege must be reviewed if we are to protect our native animals as is required under the management regulations for this Conservation Park — Qld’s Nature Conservation Act 1992.

“Wallaby numbers are in serious decline in this area.”

Ian Bell

The dog owner stayed with the wallaby until rescuers arrived.

Mr Bell said he had been in discussions with council to see what can be done about Bribie’s dog beaches.

The environmentalist is calling on council to turn all dog beaches into on-leash areas and if that wasn’t done, he would be calling for an end to dog beaches on Bribie all together.

The swamp wallaby was left with horrific facial injuries after the dog attack at Red Beach, Bribie Island

“It’s out of control. Hundreds of people from as far as Brisbane are taking their dogs to walk along our very special pristine beach and are displaying a callous disregard of that privilege,” he said.

Mr Bell said this wasn’t the first time he’d seen a dog chase down native wildlife at Red Beach.

“There were two dogs chasing wallabies quite some time ago at Red Beach and we had to intercept them,” he said.

“Fortunately we were able to stop that before it led to any serious altercation.”

The swamp wallaby was left with facial injuries after the dog attack at Red Beach, Bribie Island