Kakadu National Park dog walkers slammed online for ‘blatant disrespect’

Kakadu National Park visitors have been slammed after a photo of their ‘blatant disrespect’ for the Top End oasis went viral. Here’s why.

Territorians are furious after a photo of two people illegally walking a dog through Kakadu National Park has gone viral.

The Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act prohibits all dogs – excluding guide, hearing, and assistance dogs – from entering Commonwealth national parks, including the popular NT oasis.

Drones and other remote controlled devices are also banned from the park under the same legislation.

A Reddit user shared a de-identified image of two people walking through what appears to be Kakadu National Park. Dogs – excluding guide, hearing, and assistance dogs – are prohibited from Commonwealth national parks.

Park rangers can issue on-the-spot fines to illegal dog walkers in Kakadu.

Territorians have slammed the brazen duo online, condemning their behaviour.

“It really grinds my gears to see such blatant disrespect,” one angry user wrote.

“The rules are not there only ‘so they don’t get lost’, the rules are there to protect the environment from all the crap that can happen when you introduce a new organism – and all of their little micro-pet organisms,” another person wrote.

“The most obvious answer, ‘so they don’t get lost’, is only one little part of keeping domestic animals out of national parks, most especially fragile ones that are on a tipping point.”

Other users were more sympathetic to the dog walkers’ virtual plight, suggesting they might not be aware of the law prohibiting their furry friend from enjoying a trip outdoors.

“I had zero clue about the laws around national parks (versus) normal parks until my partner mentioned,” one person wrote.

“If I’d been away on a trip somewhere with my dog I could have easily brought my dog to a place it shouldn’t be.”

In true Territory fashion, the debate circled back to the reptiles no doubt hidden in a nearby creek.

“It’s illegal to feed the crocs food from home,” one user wrote.

Parks Australia has been contacted for comment.