Female tourist bitten by wongari on K’gari

Rangers on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) are monitoring a male dingo (wongari) believed responsible for biting a female tourist on the thigh. It is the second attack on a woman this month.

A dingo walking along 75 mile beach on Fraser Island. Rangers on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) are monitoring a male dingo (wongari) believed responsible for biting a female tourist around the thigh on October 20, 2024.

Rangers on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) are monitoring a male dingo (wongari) believed responsible for biting a female tourist around the thigh on October 20, 2024.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers were advised of the incident which occurred at around 8am at Beach Camping Zone 6 on the east coast of the island.

The attack comes weeks after another woman was bitten on the leg near Lake Mackenzie, and less than three months after a four-year-old girl was flown to Hervey Bay Hospital after being bitten by a dingo at Orchid Beach.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour made the call in late August for children to be banned from unfenced areas of K’gari for fear another death was imminent.

Image released by state government of untagged dingo on Fraser Island. Rangers on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) are monitoring a male dingo (wongari) believed responsible for biting a female tourist around the thigh on October 20, 2024.

Rangers were told that a group of international tourists arrived on the beach, and that nearby campers warned them of a dingo in the area.

The dingo approached the woman while she was going to the toilet alone. She wasn’t carrying a stick and started to run as it approached her. The dingo gave chase and bit her on the left rear thigh resulting in two puncture wounds. Campers nearby overheard and chased the dingo away.

Rangers are investigating the incident and will continue patrols in the area and provide Be dingo-safe! messaging to fishers and campers.

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.

Negative dingo encounters should immediately be reported to a QPWS ranger by calling 07 4127 9150 or emailing [e-mail]

Visitors to K’gari are reminded to ‘Be dingo-safe!’ at all times:

Always stay close (within arm’s reach) of children and young teenagers

Always walk in groups and carry a stick.

Camp in fenced areas where possible

Do not run. Running or jogging can trigger a negative dingo interaction

Never feed dingoes

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.

For more information go to K’gari dingoes

Originally published as Female tourist bitten by wongari on K’gari