Warning Over Deadly Threat at Popular Tourist Destination
Authorities are alerting visitors to a recent dingo incident at K’gari, urging caution and safety measures for tourists.
K’gari, Fraser Island, Dingoes, Queensland, Tourism
K’gari: Recently, rangers have stepped up patrols on K’gari, also known as Fraser Island, after a woman had a close encounter with two dingoes.
This island is a favorite spot for tourists, drawing around 500,000 visitors each year, but it’s also home to about 180 dingoes.
On average, there are about 15 wild dog incidents annually, with the latest one occurring just last week.
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service reported that two dingoes charged at a woman, and one of them bumped into her.
Fortunately, she wasn’t hurt, thanks to her family’s quick thinking. They stayed close together and scared off the dingoes by yelling and waving sticks.
Linda Behrendorff, a senior ranger, mentioned that it was a close call but praised the family for being dingo-safe.
Rangers are now on the lookout for the two dingoes involved in this incident.
This comes after a 4-year-old girl was bitten while fishing with her family back in August.
Earlier this year, a French tourist also had a run-in with a dingo, suffering a puncture wound to her chest.
There was even footage of a French woman getting nipped while sunbathing that made the rounds online.
Dingoes have a long history on K’gari, which is located about 250km north of Brisbane.
They used to coexist with another dog species that the traditional owners hunted.
Today, rangers keep a close eye on the dingoes, and any dangerous dogs are put down.
Each year, rangers issue fines to about two dozen people for feeding dingoes or leaving food where they can get it.
Tourists are strongly advised not to feed these wild animals.
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service recommends that visitors never feed dingoes, carry deterrent sticks, and avoid running or jogging.
Dr. Behrendorff also suggests keeping children close and considering fenced camping areas on the island.
Dingoes primarily eat small mammals, reptiles, and marine animals.
A study from 2018 found that around 30 tons of marine animals wash up on K’gari’s beaches each year, and dingoes will scavenge on dolphin, turtle, ray, and whale carcasses.