Dingoes of K'gari

I was lucky enough to spend two weeks on K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) where I had a few precious encounters with the resident Dingoes. It was not long before I fell completely in love with these beautiful canids. However, I quickly discovered much about the animals that I had no idea about before. Here is a special collection of the photographs I took during my time on the island, along with some paragraphs about the discoveries I made about this misunderstood animal. Enjoy!

Dingoes (Wongari) are an iconic part of Australia’s unique array of flora and fauna. Found across almost the entire country (Cairns et al., 2018), Dingoes play an essential role in the native ecosystems (Glen et al., 2007). Being a highly interactive species, they exert a strong control on other animals, including invasives foxes, cats, and rabbits, which helps native species, such as bilbies, to return to the landscape (Glen et al., 2007; Letnic et al., 2013). The canids are also incredibly important culturally and spiritually to many Indigenous Australians who see them as kin (The Dingo Advisory Council, 2024; Smith and Litchfield, 2009).

Unfortunately, the Dingo has been heavily persecuted, with a widely held belief that they are hybridised with domestic dogs. The specifics of Dingo management varies by state. Generally, however, the Dingo is unprotected, and the ‘Wild-dog’ is classed as a pest, which allows them to be killed on private or public land (Ritchie et al., 2023). Hunting of livestock by Dingoes contributes to strong feelings against them in some rural areas (Ritchie et al., 2023). However, recent evidence has shown that Dingo-dog hybridisation is massively overestimated. Cairns et al. (2023) found that the vast majority of Australian Dingoes are genetically pure, and the rest contain only a tiny portion of Domestic dog genes.

Having been here for potentially as long as 18,000 years (Oskarsson et al., 2012), the dingo is undoubtedly a native animal, and is still an essential part of the Australian ecosystems. In addition, killing them takes a significant amount of resources and money, and can even make them more threatening to livestock (Humane Society International Australia, 2023). There are a number of highly effective non-lethal deterrents that farmers can adopt that are proven to work in other countries that have predators much larger than Dingoes. These are outlined in a guide created by the Humane Society International Australia (2023), and includes the use of guard dogs, donkeys, and alpacas, predator-proof fencing, and scare devices, among others. In this way, landowners can also benefit from the enormous benefits provided by large predators.

The photo above was taken by the powerful surf of Seventy-Five Mile Beach. Staying here has given me a fascinating insight into the human-dingo conflict, something which I haven’t really come across before. They are definitely wild predators, which I was frequently reminded of by the many signs decorating the island, and have injured and killed people in the past. Mostly these are children, or people on their own unable to defend themselves. Runners also have been attacked, as running sets off their predator instinct. The issue is exacerbated by the fact that the Dingoes are really quite adorable, resembling a Shiba Inu dog with a short fluffy tail curled up behind them whilst they trot. There are, however, quite simple rules that people can follow to dramatically reduce the chance of attacks: Never walk alone; always bring a stick to fend them off; stand tall, hold your arms close to your body, and shout for help if they approach you; and never, ever feed or interact with them. The last point is particularly important, and is unfortunately quite common among many animals, such as cassowaries, seagulls, and monkeys. Feeding a wild animal teaches it that humans are a source of food, and they can become aggressive in search of it. All of the Dingoes that I came across were thankfully extremely calm, and I was able to quietly watch them pass by. They are a remarkable animal, and a joy to observe. I was even lucky enough to see them howling, which was the first time I had ever heard that incredible sound. They are lovely creatures, but they are predators, yet we absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt, have the tools and knowledge to live alongside them in the harmony they deserve.

References

Cairns K.M., et al. (2018) Elucidating Biogeographical Patterns in Australian Native Canids Using Genome Wide SNPs; PLoS ONE, Vol. 13, No. 6, article e0198754.
Cairns K.M., et al. (2023) Genome-Wide Variant Analyses Reveal New Patterns of Admixture and Population Structure in Australian Dingoes; Molecular Ecology, Vol. 32, issue 15, pp. 4133-4150.
Glen A.S., et al. (2007) Evaluating the Role of the Dingo as a Trophic Regulator in Australian Ecosystems; Austral Ecology, Vol. 32, pp. 492-501.
Humane Society International Australia (2023) Predator Smart Farming: Modernising Australia’s Approach to Livestock Protection.
Letnic M., et al. (2013) Ecologically Functional Landscapes and the Role of Dingoes as Trophic Regulators in South-Eastern Australia and Other Habitats; Ecological Management & Restoration, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 101-105.
Oskarsson M.C.R., et al. (2012) Mitochondrial DNA Data Indicate an Introduction Through Mainland Southeast Asia for Australian Dingoes and Polynesian Domestic Dogs; Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Vol. 279, pp. 967-974.
Ritchie E., et al. (2023) ‘The Boss of Country’, Not Wild Dogs to Kill: Living with Dingoes can Unite Communities; The Conversation.
Smith B.P., Litchfield C.A. (2009) A Review of the Relationship Between Indigenous Australians, Dingoes (Canis dingo) and Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris); Anthrozoös, Vol. 22, issue 2, pp. 111-128.
The Dingo Advisory Council (2024) The Significance of the Dingo in Indigenous Culture.