Warning over dingo threat at tourist destination K’gari

Rangers have warned visitors to be aware of a dangerous threat at one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations.

Rangers have increased patrols on K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, after a woman was charged by two dingoes last week.

The island is a popular tourist destination that attracts around 500,000 tourists each year, but it is also home to approximately 180 dingoes.

There are an average of 15 wild dog incidents each year, the most recent of which happened on December 19.

Two dingoes charged at a woman and one of the animals collided with her, according to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

Rangers have increased patrols after two dingoes ran at a woman and one of the dogs collided with her last week.

“This was a close call but thankfully the woman wasn’t bitten or injured,” senior ranger Linda Behrendorff said.

“The family were being dingo-safe by staying close to each other and were able to deter the dingoes by yelling and carrying sticks.

We were advised by the family that the dingoes fled as soon as they saw the sticks, and it is pleasing to see that they were carrying dingo sticks and travelling in a group.”

Rangers have increased patrols to look for the two animals involved in the incident.

It comes after a 4-year-old girl was bitten in August while fishing with her family.

A French tourist was bitten earlier this year. Picture: Department of Environment and Science

She suffered a puncture wound to the chest and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Footage of a bikini-clad Frenchwoman who was nipped while sunbaking went far and wide earlier this year.

Dingoes are deeply entwined in the history of K’gari, which sits off the Queensland coast 250km north of Brisbane.

The animals coexisted with another species of dogs which traditional owners used to hunt.

Nowadays the dingoes are closely monitored by rangers and dangerous dogs are put down.

Rangers issue fines to approximately two dozen people each year for feeding dingoes or leaving food in areas they can access.

Tourists are warned not to feed dingoes.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service advises people to never feed the dingoes, carry deterrent sticks and never run or jog.

“Always keep children or small teens within reach and never walk alone or run on the beach, and people with children can consider staying in the fenced camping areas of K’gari,” Dr Behrendorff said.

The dogs eat small mammals, reptiles, vegetation and marine animals.

A 2018 study found 30 tons of marine animals wash up on K’gari beaches each year, and dingoes will pick dolphin, turtle, ray and whale carcasses clean.

Originally published as Warning over dingo threat at tourist destination K’gari