Dingo bites child on K’gari, tourists warned to remain vigilant
Another child has been bitten by a dingo at a popular tourist destination that is becoming a hotspot for such incidents.
Rangers are investigating after a child was bitten by a wongari (dingo) on K’gari, the popular Queensland tourist destination that was formerly known as Fraser Island.
The child suffered minor injuries and was reportedly treated by the Queensland Ambulance Service after the incident, which occurred at Eli Creek.
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) was advised of the incident about 1pm on Wednesday.
Rangers are attempting to identify the collared dingo that bit the child, the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation said in a statement released on Wednesday.
“Rangers will make further inquiries with the child’s family to determine the circumstances that led to the incident, and patrols have been increased in the Eli Creek area,” it said.
“Visitors and residents on K’gari are reminded to remain vigilant at all times by keeping children at arm’s length, never walking alone and carrying a stick at all times.
“QPWS carry out constant education and compliance activities on K’gari. Rangers maintain fences at multiple camping areas, conduct daily patrols of the island and respond to human-dingo interactions on a case-case basis.”
The incident is the latest in a number of dingo injuries on K’gari.
Two tourists received dingo bites in separate incidents on the same day in February, while a German tourist was bitten in March and another child was bitten earlier this month at Yidney beachfront.
The department said the government would invest an additional $2m in funding this financial year and an additional $3m annually on an ongoing basis to expand its dingo safety messaging and support 13 new positions dedicated to dingo conservation and management.
“The Fraser Island Dingo Conservation and Risk Management Strategy was reviewed in 2020 by the Queensland chief scientist, with the assistance of an expert panel, and was found to be comprehensive and effective,” it said.
The department reminded visitors to K’gari to be “dingo-safe” at all times, including by:
- always staying within arm’s reach of children and young teenagers;
- always walking in groups and carrying a stick;
- camping in fenced areas where possible;
- avoiding running or jogging, which can trigger a negative dingo interaction;
- never feeding dingoes;
- locking up food stores and iceboxes (even on a boat);
- never storing food or food containers in tents, and
- securing all rubbish, fish and bait.
Negative dingo encounters should be reported to a QPWS ranger by calling 07 4127 9150 or emailing dingo.ranger@des.qld.gov.au.