‘High-risk’ Fraser Island dingo put down by rangers

The cull follows months of dingo mayhem that has put children and women in hospital, but one group says killing is not an “acceptable option”.

A third “high-risk” dingo has been put down by Queensland rangers after it was deemed to pose a significant threat to public safety.

The Queensland Environment Department confirmed it euthanised the K’gari Island dingo over the weekend after the animal demonstrated “increasingly significant high-risk behaviours” since it was tagged in January this year.

The threatening behaviour included stealing food, persistently approaching people, stalking, circling, lunging, nipping and biting, a department statement said.

“The most recent serious incident involved biting a woman who was standing alone on the beach on August 26,” it said.

The department said before the decision to cull was made, rangers tried several options to manage the dingo’s behaviour, including closing camping areas in the dingo’s preferred range to minimise the risk of increased habitation.

“The dingo continued its pattern of negative interactions towards people with a series of threatening and high-risk interactions recorded involving children, adults, and rangers, including six high-risk interactions,” the department said.

A dingo on K'gari bit a French tourist while she was sunbathing in June.

The department has also revealed a second dingo exhibiting high-risk behaviour is being closely monitored.

“Rangers will continue to closely monitor the second dingo before making any further management decisions,” the department 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.”

Save the Fraser Island Dingos has blasted the move, arguing killing is not a “sustainable or acceptable option”.

“The dingo was only a juvenile born last year and will now never reach adulthood,” the group said in a statement.

“We do not support the destruction of any healthy animal.

“Three dingoes have been destroyed this year, and counting, as there are others being closely monitored.

“SFID understands that human safety must be a consideration, but the public has their part to play in exercising care and responsible behaviour.”

Rangers tag dingoes to monitor their movements. Picture: Supplied

World Heritage-listed K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, has been marred by a series of dingo attacks this year.

An eight-year-old boy was attacked in early July and a 10-year-old boy was dragged under the water by a dingo in June.

In mid-July, a 24-year-old woman was hospitalised after she was attacked by a pack of dingoes while out jogging on the beach.

A six-year-old girl was hospitalised with puncture wounds to her head and hand after a dingo attack in April.

Altogether, there have been more than 100 high-risk or threatening interactions between dingoes and people in 2023.

Originally published as ‘High-risk’ Fraser Island dingo put down by rangers