Woman bitten on hand by dingo before Easter long weekend
A woman has been bitten on the hands by a dingo near a camping area on K’gari on Thursday morning.
The woman had left the Winnam camping area alone and was walking towards the ocean about 10.30am when she was approached by five dingoes.
Visitors to K’gari are reminded to never approach or feed dingoes, avoid walking alone and keep children close at all times. Food and waste should also be secured at all times.Credit: Kaihla McConnell
A tagged dingo lunged at the woman. She suffered two lacerations to the middle fingers on both hands.
The Queensland Ambulance Service treated the woman on the island, formerly Fraser Island, and advised her to see a doctor.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers had previously provided dingo-safe education to people at the camping area, on the eastern side of the island along 75 Mile Beach, and were investigating the incident.
It was believed the pack of dingoes had been spending time around the camping area after gaining access to a large amount of unsecured food from a different campsite earlier this week.
The Department of Environment and Tourism warned that dingoes only needed to be fed or find scraps once to form a food association with people or an area.
The incident brought the total number of negative interactions and high-risk incidents between humans and dingoes on K’gari in 2025 to 32.
An attack on April 2 saw three women visiting the island as part of a group tour bitten while walking near Lake Wabby.
There were 147 recorded incidents in 2024.
Dingoes on 75 Mile Beach near Eurong, close to where a woman was bitten on Thursday, April 17.Credit: Courtney Kruk
The Easter school holidays coincide with dingo breeding season (March to May), a time when the animals test their dominance and protect their territories.
Research shows subadult males become more aggressive during breeding season and analysis of negative human-dingo interactions on K’gari had previously found a consistent pattern of incidents peaking in March-April and also July, corresponding with dingo breeding and whelping seasons.
Rangers urged residents and visitors to K’gari to be aware of the risks and always walk in groups, carry a stick and keep food and rubbish secured.
It is an offence to feed or approach dingoes.
Any concerning dingo behaviour or interactions should be reported to rangers, either by calling 07 4127 9150 or emailing dingo.ranger@des.qld.gov.au.
How to stay ‘dingo-safe’ on K’gari:
- Always stay close (within arm’s reach) to children and young teenagers
- Always walk in groups and carry a stick
- Never feed dingoes
- Camp in fenced areas where possible
- Do not run. Running or jogging can trigger a negative dingo interaction
- Lock up food stores and iceboxes (even on a boat)
- Never store food or food containers in tents, and
- Secure all rubbish, fish and bait.