Dingo stabbed after attacking child on K’gari

Park rangers on K’gari have found and euthanised the dingo stabbed during an attack on a child last week as authorities raise their increasing concerns about dingo behaviour on the island and the serious danger for children.

A dingo has been stabbed almost to death after an attack on a child on K’gari on Friday.

A severely injured dingo has been put down after it was stabbed in the neck by a man saving a child from its jaws at Yidney Rocks on K’gari on Friday.

The animal was nearly stabbed to death with a pocketknife by the man who intervened when he saw the dingo biting a nine-year-old boy on the K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) beach track on Friday morning, May 23.

It is understood the bystander rescued the child through his actions.

A Department of Science, Environment and Innovation spokesman said the dingo was found on Saturday and “humanely euthanised”.

It was originally reported the dingo had been killed in the stabbing, but became apparent it had survived the stabbing and limped away.

The injured child was taken to the mainland hospital in a stable condition with a wound to his arm.

The next day, Queensland Parks and Wildlife ranger Mark Cody said a number of witnesses had been interviewed and it was believed a pocketknife was used in the stabbing.

“In the course of the intervention to try and remove the animal from the child, the person had stabbed the dingo in the neck,” Mr Cody said.

“From all reports, the person did make a sustained effort to open the jaws of the animal that had locked onto the child.”

A dingo advocate slammed the stabbing of one of the animals as it attacked a child as a “complete over-reaction” while parents are being warned the island is increasingly dangerous for children.

Earlier, the state government reminded visitors to the island to keep a stick with them and watch children at all times.

“Our thoughts are with the family and nine-year old boy after what would have been a confronting experience at Yidney Rocks,” Environment and Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said.

A severely injured dingo has been put down after it was stabbed in the neck by a man saving a child from its jaws at Yidney Rocks on K’gari on Friday (file photo).

“We are waiting for more information about the incident and in the meantime, we will increase ranger patrols in the area.

“We are working to review the Dingo Management Plan for K’gari to ensure it is fit for purpose in 2025.”

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said the frequency and changing nature of the dingo attacks was very concerning.

“K’gari is a wilderness and can be dangerous. People at all times need to be alert to the risks,” he said.

“This attack, like the one earlier in the week, is quite different to what we used to see.

“The change in behaviour is concerning. Everyone needs to be aware of the risks, but parents need to be extremely vigilant in protecting their children.”

Meanwhile, Cheryl Bryant of Save Fraser Island Dingoes said the conservation group considered the response of the bystander “completely out of proportion to the incident”, claiming the animal “could have been chased away as has happened on previous occasions”.

“The consequences of leaving children unsupervised or out of arm’s reach can be devastating, we now have a traumatised child and likely another dead dingo,” Ms Bryant said.

“Reasonable force refers to the minimum amount of force necessary to prevent harm.

“The law recognises the right to use reasonable force, but it must be proportionate to the threat and not excessive.

“The dingoes are protected on K’gari and we believe this was an over-reaction”.

She also cited a study released in 2022 which included a list of recommendations to reduce visitor/dingo incidents on K’gari.

“The state Labor government was to implement a new management plan based on the findings of this study, but the current LNP government has dismissed the proposed plan and ruled out any cap to visitor numbers,” she claimed.

“The tourism and environment department says it is working on a new management plan.

“We await in anticipation as to how the department proposes to address these issues.

“In the meantime, our wildlife and the fragile environment of K’gari remain at risk.”

Originally published as Dingo stabbed after attacking child on K’gari