Dingoes, those curious canines found on Fraser Island and in other parts of Australia: basically dogs that have returned to a wild state after thousands of years without human contact. Dogs: cute and adorable, but also dangerous. Every year in Australia, but mainly in K’gari, dingo attacks on people occur, which are sometimes fatal. The worst of all? Most of the time it’s the people who are to blame.
For that reason, in this post we will give you a great series of recommendations and tips in order to protect yourself, your family and, above all, the dingoes on Fraser Island. The information provided in the following article is exclusively taken from Queensland Parks and Wildlife. Don’t forget to check their website before visiting K’gari and find out the most up-to-date information about dingoes.
Dingoes are one of the main attractions of K’gari Island, as they are considered the wild dogs of Australia. They live on Fraser Island and have a population of between 25 and 30 packs with 10 to 12 individuals per pack.
The main diet of dingoes on Fraser Island includes kangaroos, small rodents, birds, crabs, and fish scraps washed ashore by the tide.
If you see a skinny dingo, don’t be fooled by its appearance, it may be a juvenile that has not yet fully developed. Also, keep in mind that they live by the laws of nature, where only the fittest survive.
Before we dive into the tips and recommendations to follow on Fraser Island regarding dingoes, let’s review how to protect yourself from a threat from these animals.
And let me tell you something else- never feed any wild animal, as it can lose its natural ability to hunt or find food. This rule applies especially to the dingoes on Fraser Island because as well as becoming accustomed to humans, they can also react aggressively when they are fed once but not again.
By the way, if you are caught feeding dingoes on Fraser Island by rangers or the police, be warned that you could be fined up to AU$12,000.
In addition to not feeding them, it is not recommended to bring food to lakes or streams as these are often dingo hunting areas. You can eat at fenced picnics or inside your vehicle.
Don’t disturb dingoes, and for that matter any wild animal. Basically, don’t pet them, don’t touch them, don’t approach them, and if they do approach you, back away slowly.
Don’t try to get their attention, don’t block their path with your vehicle, don’t throw anything at them. And a long list of ‘no’s,’ but we imagine you get the gist. Fines apply again.
Just as it sounds, don’t stray too far from your little ones if you’re traveling around Fraser Island. And why? Because infants are the most vulnerable to dingo attacks. Not only because they are smaller and are seen as prey, but also because children are not prepared to play along with the dingo’s dominance games.
Many of the attacks that happen on Fraser Island occur to people who are traveling alone. These wild canines sense that a person is defenseless and so an attack is more likely.
Therefore, it is recommended to travel in groups and, if you are going with children, do not let them go ahead of you (review the previous rule if you are unsure why). Lastly, if you’re going to use the outdoor restroom, have someone accompany you and keep an eye out for you.
If you go for a run every now and then, you’ve probably had a dog suddenly start barking at you excitedly. Well, dingoes are no different. The main difference is that, while your neighbor’s dog is trained or at least on a leash, this one is free in its wild natural habitat. An attack can happen.
As we mentioned in the post about the adventure in Fraser Island, camping on the beaches, whilst an amazing experience, can be dangerous. During the night we spent at that campsite, when we went to stargaze, a dingo started chasing us almost all the way to the door of our car.
So, if you want to protect yourself from them and avoid attacks at all costs, stay at the K’gari campsites with fences.
Yes, as it sounds, take care of your trash. Basically, this means not leaving food scraps or garbage out in the open. Also, if you are going fishing, do not leave bait exposed- close the container and secure it. Lastly, do not store food scraps inside your tent, as dingoes are capable of tearing tents apart.
As you can see, dingoes in K’gari are no laughing matter. Attacks do and will happen; more often than not because the above advice has been ignored. Don’t be one of them! And if you don’t do it for yourself, do it for them as they are ultimately the ones who truly suffer from human actions.
Lastly, don’t let the dingoes make you reconsider your adventure on Fraser Island. As long as you follow the advice above, nothing should happen to you.
During our week on Fraser Island, apart from the scare while camping on the beach, we didn’t have any problems with these animals. What’s more, we were able to enjoy seeing these wild dogs in their natural habitat.
