Child, 7, bitten on leg by dingo on K’gari while family waits for barge

Another young girl has been attacked by a dingo after running in fear from an encounter on K’gari.

A child has been bitten by a dingo on K’gari.

A seven-year-old child has been bitten by a dingo on K’gari in an incident that left her with puncture wounds to her thigh.

On Thursday, a family was waiting for the barge at Hook Point and observed a dingo loitering around the barge landing.

The mother got out of the vehicle to take photos of the dingo and was unaware that her children had also gotten out of the vehicle.

The dingo approached the girl, who became frightened and ran.

The dingo followed and bit the girl on the thigh before people nearby chased the dingo away.

QPWS rangers are investigating the incident and are attempting to identify the dingo involved.

The parents advised rangers that they would be taking their child for medical treatment once they returned to the mainland.

It comes after a 5-year-old girl was bitten by a dingo on the island last month.

A dingo (wongari) on K’gari.

On Sunday, December 10, 2023, the girl was bitten on the thigh and received lacerations and bruising near Wathumba beach about 3pm.

Witnesses said the girl ran from a large group of people near the sand flats, and a nearby dingo ran at full speed toward her and nipped her on the thigh.

The next day, December 11, rangers were patrolling the beach at Wathumba and delivering Be Dingo-safe messaging to visitors when they noticed a boy, 7, away from his family.

A dingo that had been sleeping under a vehicle began walking toward the boy with intent, and the boy became scared and ran.

The dingo ran at speed toward the boy as rangers ran through the water and the parents also ran for the boy.

The dingo lunged, attempting to bite but did not make contact.

Visitors and residents on K’gari are reminded to keep children under constant supervision while visiting the island.

To help boost public safety on K’gari, the Queensland government is investing an additional $2 million in funding this financial year and an additional $3 million annually ongoing.

The funding will create jobs for an additional six QPWS rangers, three specialist staff and four additional Indigenous rangers in partnership with the traditional owners, the Butchulla people.

A dingo (wongari) at Eli Creek on K’gari.

The addition of new rangers to the island will increase face-to-face information sessions and enhanced management and monitoring of wongari that exhibit threatening and high-risk behaviour.

QPWS will also expand proactive Be dingo-safe messaging to help educate tourists when they purchase camping permits, and at strategic locations on the island.

It comes as it was revealed just 27 people were fined for dangerously interacting with wild dingoes on K’gari in the past five years, despite a spike in the number of high-profile serious incidents – and a promised state government crackdown.

More than 30 high-risk interactions between humans and dingoes – also known as wongari – have occurred this year, including a 23-year-old woman being chased into the ocean, an attack on a six-year-old girl, and a 10-year-old boy being dragged under water.

There have also been dozens more threatening incidents, with three animals on the island euthanised last year.

Anyone with information about dingo incidents is encouraged to contact a QPWS ranger by calling 07 4127 9150.

Originally published as Child, 7, bitten on leg by dingo on K’gari while family waits for barge