Young girl suffers ‘significant’ bites in latest dingo attack on K’gari

Rangers say they have found the dingo responsible for leaving a primary school-aged girl with “significant injuries” and issued a warning to parents after the second attack on K’gari in a week.

Rangers say they have indentified the dingo responsible for biting a child on K’gari on Friday and are increasing patrols of the island.

Parents, however, are being warned to “stay vigilant” and carry big sticks.

It comes after a young girl suffered significant injuries after she was attacked by a dingo while swimming with her family at Hook Point.

The girl, aged under 10, was near adults about 12.30pm on Friday when it’s understood a dingo approached and bit her multiple times, causing cuts and puncture wounds to her thigh and buttocks.

The girl was transported off the island by barge before being met by paramedics at Inskip Point and taken to Gympie Hospital.

On Saturday, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) confirmed it had identified the culprit.

“Rangers have spoken to multiple witnesses and have confirmed the identity of the sub-adult male dingo involved,” the statement read

“QPWS has increased patrols in the Hook Point area to enhance education to ensure visitors are behaving responsibly.”

There was no suggestion the dingo would be euthanised at this stage.

Instead, QPWS said in line with its Dingo Conservation and Risk Management Strategy and co-management with the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, it was investigating immediate options available including a tracking collar to closely monitor the animal but would consder taking additional steps if the dingo displayed further dangerous behaviour.

Senior Ranger Linda Behrendorff said rangers and the community needed to work together to keep people safe around dingoes.

“Our thoughts are with the little girl and her family, who have no doubt been traumatised by this incident,” Ranger Behrendorff said.

“We are taking immediate and long-term action to prevent dingo attacks and other high-risk incidents on K’gari, but we need the public’s help to keep everyone, including dingoes, safe.

“The best thing parents can do to keep their children safe around dingoes is to keep them within arm’s reach at all times and walk with a long stick.

“It’s important to stay vigilant at all times, even if you are waiting for the barge to leave the island, as dingoes are known to frequent these areas.”Friday’s attack comes just a week after a seven-year-old girl was also attacked on the island. The girl was left with puncture wounds to her thigh as a result of the incident.

The bite is believed to have taken place when a family, waiting for a barge at Hook Point, observed a dingo loitering in the area.

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

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

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

Originally published as Young girl suffers ‘significant’ bites in latest dingo attack on K’gari