Primary schoolboy bitten on ‘lower abdomen’ by dingo on K’gari

Another child has been bitten by a dingo on K’gari following a horror holiday period where multiple people were attacked and a dingo was destroyed.

A young boy is the latest victim of a dingo attack on K’gari.

According to the Queensland Ambulance Service, the child, described as “primary-school-aged” was bitten at the Bowal Creek Campground on Friday night about 9pm.

He sustained injuries to his lower abdomen and was transported to Hervey Bay Hospital in a stable condition with the assistance of Volunteer Marine Rescue.

It comes just weeks after a juvenile male dingo, responsible for multiple attacks on people including two children aged five and 10, was destroyed by rangers.

At the time, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service issued a plea for island visitors to take care on the island and follow preventive measures as putting down a dingo was “always a last resort”.

QPWS released a statement confirming it was investigating the bite and visitors were reminded to keep children under “constant supervision”.

The statement also highlighted $5million in funding which to “help boost public safety” including the hiring of six more QPWS rangers, three specialist staff and four additional Indigenous rangers.

“The addition of new rangers to the island will increase face-to-face information sessions and enhanced management and monitoring of wongari (dingoes) that exhibit threatening and high-risk behaviour,” the statement read

“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.”

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

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
• 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.

Originally published as Primary schoolboy bitten on ‘lower abdomen’ by dingo on K’gari