Gold Coast influencer, Zara Mander, slammed for dingo post

A Gold Coast influencer has been slammed sharing an image of an interaction with a dingo on K’gari amid a wave of ugly human-dingo interactions.

A Queensland influencer has been lashed over a social media post showing her interacting with a wild dingo on K’gari amid a year of attacks and increased warnings to leave the animals alone.

Gold Coast 21-year-old Zara Mander was slammed over a post showing an apparent interaction with a dingo on the Queensland island — formerly known as Fraser Island — this week.

The image shows Mander with an outstretched hand towards the dingo. There is no suggestion that any contact was made.

Ms Mander has since removed the post, though a lifted version of it continues to circle social media, shared mainly through outraged members of the public.

Queensland influencer Zara Mander faces criticism for an irresponsible social media post involving a wild dingo on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island).

Mander’s post has been removed, but a circulated version continues to outrage the public.

Cheryl Bryant from Save Fraser Island Dingoes, a dingo advocacy organisation set up in 2009, told news.com.au the apparent interaction showed a disregard for the well-communicated rules about dingoes on K’gari.

“We’re absolutely frustrated by this,” she said.

“There’s so much information, signage, and warnings out there – everyone knows to keep their distance.”

She added that the dingo appeared to be tagged, meaning it has likely already caught the attention of authorities.

“They’ll be watching it closely now, and all because she (allegedly) enticed it,” Ms Bryant said.

Zara Mander, 21, is being investigated by authorities after an apparent interaction with a dingo on K'gari. Picture: Instagram

Ms Mander declined to comment and referred news.com.au to her lawyer, but did not provide a name or contact details for her counsel.

A Queensland Department of Environment and Science (DES) spokesperson confirmed it is aware of Ms Mander’s social media post.

“It can take one incident like this to set a wongari on the path to habituation,” they told news.com.au.

“Residents and visitors to the island must not behave in a way that puts themselves, other people or wongari at risk.

“Deliberately feeding or approaching wongari can put people at risk.”

Dangerous dingo interactions have spiked this year, with a number of serious attacks prompting the closure of hugely popular campgrounds on the island and euthanasia of several dingoes deemed high risk.

Dangerous dingo interactions have increased in 2023, leading to campground closures and euthanasia of high-risk dingoes. Picture: Liam Kidston

This week alone, DES have announced increased patrols on K’gari, formerly Fraser Island, over the school holidays after a dingo involved in six high-risk attacks was euthanised.

“The dingo has demonstrated increasingly significant high-risk behaviours since it was tagged in January 2023, including stealing food, persistently approaching people, stalking, circling, lunging, nipping and biting.” the department said on Monday.

On Wednesday, the department confirmed a man had been fined for feeding and habituating dingo on the island.

The 58-year-old Queensland man was filmed on September 7 enticing and attempting to handfeed a dingo at Eastern Beach adjacent to Poyungan Valley.

He was later fined $2,476.

A man has copped a $2,476 fine after he was filmed feeding two dingoes on a K’gari beach.

Manager Compliance Optimisation Mike Devery labelled the man’s actions “a dangerous decision”.

“Now these wongari have been fed, they might associate people with food,” he said.

“Sadly, we have euthanised three habituated wongari in 2023, including one at the weekend, because people ignored the rules.”

The department has already proven willing to offer harsh penalties for interactions like Ms Mander’s.

Two women were fined $2300 in July over selfies with dingoes on K'gari.

Two women were handed $2300 fines each after they took selfies with dingoes on the Queensland island of K’gari.

An official with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) said it was an “extremely dangerous decision” to interact with the wild animals, locally known as wongari.

The fines came not long after a woman was viciously mauled by a pack of dingoes while jogging on K’gari.

People are encouraged to be dingo-safe and report any deliberate interactions by calling 07 4127 9150 or emailing [e-mail]