K'gari dingos

Submitted: Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 11:15
ThreadID: 149026 Views:2231 Replies:14 FollowUps:24
.
Just a heads-up that K'gari (Fraser Island) dingos continue to be a problem with another bite incident this week.

Clip from the latest local news story:
“Visitors and residents are also reminded to remain vigilant of their surroundings at all times, keep children within arm’s length, never walk alone and carry a stick at all times.
All negative dingo encounters should immediately be reported to a QPWS ranger by calling 07 4127 9150 or emailing dingo.ranger@des.qld.gov.au."

If you are visiting the Island then In particular be very cautious with your children.
Cheers
Allan

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

Back Reply Expand Un-Read 3 Moderator

Reply By: Richard M29 - Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 15:40

Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 15:40
That is one island that needs to be shut down to tourists to protect the environment and wildlife including the dingo's, I would support the indigenous to shut it down, and hope one day they will, not for them, but for the environment out there.
AnswerID: 646786

Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 16:47

Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 16:47
.
Your'e right Richard. K'gari is suffering from overload in many ways. When I first started going to Fraser Island many years ago I saw very few dingos. They possibly saw me but kept hidden. As the tourist visitors increased they became more accustomed to humans and with being fed became more bolden and assertive.
One way of managing it could be to limit the numbers of visitors on the island at any one time, much as is done on Lord Howe Island. This would relieve the pressure yet still permit tourism in a controlled manner.
Because I live close to K'gari I visited regularly but became disillusioned by the increasing tourist population and abandoned visiting several years ago.
It is somewhat novel that when Roz first visited there about 1970 and before any vehicle access, her small hiking group spent two weeks on the island and saw no other persons nor any dingos.
Cheers
Allan

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

3
FollowupID: 927506

Reply By: IvanTheTerrible - Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 19:03

Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 19:03
In all my travels I have never been approached by a dingo in the wild, only at main public campsites near popular attractions. Now we choose to camp remote. No problem
AnswerID: 646787

Reply By: IvanTheTerrible - Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 19:14

Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 19:14
And it isn't the Dingoes that are the problem!
AnswerID: 646788

Reply By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 20:06

Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 20:06
We have just been camping in the beautiful Bunya Mountains in Qld and they have black and tan dingos that comes right up to your camp in the National Park. I tried to shoo one away and he honestly growled at me and sat down. The lady camped besides us was having a chat with us at the time and she wasn't too impressed and rang the ranger. Later the next day I was chatting to the locals and got the dingos names and found out HE had a pup nearby. Parks had done a big cull over COVID and Danny the dingo was the only breeding family left. He was gorgeous but they are far too tame and expecting a steak for dinner which makes them a little aggitated when they don't get their way. I would not have been so blaise had I had young kids with me. I little chased him away and he kept coming back and was a daily visitor. I agree, that closing camping in areas likes K'gari is the best solution - that is a very unique location and those dingoes in particular are unique. Time will tell.
BTW - we are literally opposite K'gari now but will not be visiting, having had a wonderful visit way back 27 years ago. It wouldn't be the same and don't need to spoil our memories. This area of Qld is having a major heatwave just now so going south in a hurry soon.
MM
David (DM) & Michelle (MM)
---------------------------------
Currently Mapping in the Field Across Australia Fulltime in 2024 - 2025

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message
Moderator

AnswerID: 646789

Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 21:58

Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 21:58
.
Hi Michelle,
You would be wise to retain your memory from 27 years ago. It has changed a great deal since then. We have found that wonderful experiences grow even better in the mind whilst often becoming worse in reality. K'gari is certainly one such.
It is not always the case though.... we revisit several places that are special to us but they are not popular tourist places which get over-loved.

Cheers
Allan

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

1
FollowupID: 927507

Follow Up By: Member - Jim S1 - Saturday, Nov 09, 2024 at 06:54

Saturday, Nov 09, 2024 at 06:54
Been to the Bunyas a few times. Lovely cool mountain air and some great walks. Kookaburras are another pest , stealing sausages , steak etc , yet again caused by people who feed them.

Cheers
Jim
"Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." A fisherman.

"No road is long with good company." Traditional

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Position  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 927508

Follow Up By: Batt's - Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 18:33

Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 18:33
We were there for a week in 1996 camping at Dunduburra, never seen them during the day but you could hear them trotting around the camp at night.
0
FollowupID: 927544

Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Nov 17, 2024 at 09:52

Sunday, Nov 17, 2024 at 09:52
.
Batt's, 1996 is nearly 30 years ago. Things have changed a lot since then.
However, in 1984 we were concerned that a dingo pair were standing at our camp's edge eying off our 4 year old. And we did lose one of his leather sandals overnight…. found chewed next morning.
Cheers
Allan

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

2
FollowupID: 927545

Follow Up By: Batt's - Monday, Nov 18, 2024 at 13:18

Monday, Nov 18, 2024 at 13:18
It's one of those things I've been meaning to go back but never have always going to new places. We went outside of school holidays and it was what I would call busy it would be hectic these days.
0
FollowupID: 927557

Reply By: RMD - Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 20:07

Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 20:07
To many people go there and the buildings should NEVER HAVE BEEN ALLOWED. All done for money for someone. The problems might be the Dingo's who control it all. No offence to the any 4 legged Dingo!
AnswerID: 646790

Reply By: Member - peter g28 - Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 20:16

Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 20:16
There was mentioned in the press about 5 odd years ago that National Parks QLD were contemplating limiting the amount of visitors to K'gari due to the visitors / camper numbers starting becoming a problem.
I have visited the island on several occasions since the 1990's and on the last visit 2010, it was getting uncomefortably crowded in some campsites, some 4wders were becoming a issue on tracks and disregarding the oneway rules, speeding along the main beach, some kids running around the main beach unsupervised. I saw one such idiot try to race drag a plane whilst it was taking off..that was enough for me...I was out...haven't been back since.
AnswerID: 646791

Reply By: Member - Bigfish - Saturday, Nov 09, 2024 at 07:46

Saturday, Nov 09, 2024 at 07:46
Shut the place down. Full of idiots and weekend warriors. So many dropkicks getting around with no respect for anyone or anything. Its about time man started to care about our environment for future generations.
AnswerID: 646792

Reply By: Member - Cuppa - Saturday, Nov 09, 2024 at 10:44

Saturday, Nov 09, 2024 at 10:44
Have never been to K'gari.

Over the past few years we have had quite a few close encounters with dingos, but not in places where they have become accustomed to humans...... apart from the one who stole a shoe left outside whilst camping in Karijini.

We have generally found them to be inquisitive, self assured & often playful. Our accomodation in the Iron Range rainforest looked out onto an embankment with the treeline immediately behind it. On numerous occasions a dingo would wander past as we lay in bed looking out. It could hear our movements but could only see it's own reflection in the french doors, & delighted us by playing with it's reflection. At Moreton Telegraph Station we would often see lone dingos wandering by in the open, but had a visit, underneath the raised house, from a family of young pups exploring 'their' territory one night, until a parent, further away inside the treeline howled to alert them to us turning on the lights. Many more encounters, some just feet away. Never felt threatened, but always just felt privileged without need to do anything other than watch on.

See 'My Profile' (below) for link to our Aussie travel blog, now in it's 6th year.

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 646793

Reply By: Member - McLaren3030 - Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 07:15

Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 07:15
I have camped on K’Gari Fraser Island twice, first time back in the mid 1990’s. Very different back then, you could still camp at Lake McKenzie back then which we did. The second time was in 2012. More people, the access track from Rainbow Beach to Inskip Point was in worse condition. The “go around” tracks where the rocks come down to the waters edge along the 75 Mile Beach were in much worse condition. It was not as enjoyable as it was back in the mid 1990’s.

I do not think closing off the Island completely is the answer, but I do think limiting access would be a good idea. I also think better education for those wanting to access the island might be worth trying. Perhaps an online test with suitable questions regarding dingoes and other K’gari specific questions be initiated when applying for your permit.

Macca.
Macca.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 646796

Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 09:30

Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 09:30
.
Hi Macca,

The tracks are probably little worse in the last 10 years but the numbers and behaviour of visitors is much worse.
And I would recommend not camping in the zones above the high water line along the beaches. The E. coli levels must be astronomic there with everyone crapping in the sand.

I doubt that a permit "test" of any kind would be helpful. There is plenty of prominent information about dingos and anyone can provide the correct answers yet still behave like a numpty.
I don't like 'behaviour legislation' but in K'gari's case it seems necessary…… limit the numbers and require all visitors to camp in formal fenced campgrounds. If they did that I may even return to the island.
The cops enforce the beach speed limit as best they can but I have heard them called-out on the UHF.
Cheers
Allan

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

3
FollowupID: 927511

Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 07:09

Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 07:09
Yes Allan,

You are probably correct with regards to a “test” for camping permits. I like your idea of only permitting camping in marked fenced areas. Of course this would entail the Queensland Parks Service to actually create these area, and restrict camping to being completely self contained, including all toilet waste, that people need to take with them when they leave the island.

Macca.
Macca.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Position  Send Message

2
FollowupID: 927515

Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 07:54

Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 07:54
Dale’s Campground at Karijini WA would be a good model to follow, if it would work in an island setting.Well spaced campsites, a generator section & the cleanest long drops I’ve ever had the privilege to use.

The overflow camp is small, crowded with only one toilet. Makes most folk appreciate the spread of Dales.

Bob

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

2
FollowupID: 927516

Follow Up By: Batt's - Monday, Nov 18, 2024 at 13:28

Monday, Nov 18, 2024 at 13:28
The W.A government might not be as money hungry as the east coast where you can turn 2 camping sites into 3 just cram them in and collect their money.
1
FollowupID: 927558

Reply By: Member - Dick L - Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 14:04

Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 14:04
The dingo's had plenty of food when the other feral animals (goats and horses) where there and so bred up. Then the NP's removed the other feral animals and the dingo's moved to the beaches foraging for food and started being fed by some campers which led to their aggression around campers. The only solution till natural attrition takes place is to feed them or cull them.
AnswerID: 646797

Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 15:22

Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 15:22
.
Hi Dick,
I cannot see how "natural attrition" would take place if you were to "feed them".
Maybe attrition would occur if you were to stop feeding them? But read below on that.
Culling has repeatedly been proposed and rejected.
The dingo population of K'gari is estimated as approximately 200 animals and essentially stable, varying only by seasonal effects. Counting was only attempted since 1980 and the population is not significantly changing. To tourist observers the numbers may seem to be increasing only because of the dingo/human interaction bringing more animals out of concealment.
Although feeding dingos is discouraged it is not considered to have had effect on population. Its negative effect is on dingo health and behaviour. If however, feeding by humans continues, the dingos will likely become more dependant and lose hunting skills with consequent adverse results.
Cheers
Allan

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

2
FollowupID: 927514

Follow Up By: Gbc.. - Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024 at 19:38

Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024 at 19:38
Pretty sure that theory has been debunked a few times. There were never any great goat numbers. The numbers of brumby foals dying from sand cholic was never in any number that could be called regular diet for the dingos, and they never predated horses. What did affect them was all the town locals and tourists feeding them for years and the numerous open dumps at each settlement - 6 odd locations that the dingos scavenged each night. When NPWS shut those down and started fining the locals who where feeding them - the dingos got pretty upset. That timing coincided with removing ferals.
There is actually still a mob of brumbies in the North end that keep a low profile. I don’t see any dingos following them around.
0
FollowupID: 927526

Reply By: Rangiephil - Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 14:30

Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 14:30
I started camping on Fraser in 1978 . Back then the Brumbies were more of a danger than the dingoes.
When those Stallions were fighting over their harems, they would run through your tent ropes biting each other on the bum.
I used to camp on the south bank of Ely Creek where the toilets are now, and taught the kids to swim by chucking em in the creek. They loved it.
My observation is that dingoes react to mistreatment or stupidity. I have seen people kick sand in their faces for amusement. One incident in I think the 90s. There was a bitch with 4 pups on the south end near the ferry. There were English tourist kids chasing around the pups. The next day headlines . Dingo bites child!
Those were the days. I will not go back now. I see enough idiots if I go up the coloured sands to Rainbow and see bogans in Hiluxes go through the rocks with surf over the cab.
AnswerID: 646798

Reply By: North 200 - Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 07:52

Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 07:52
Not sure why everybody tries to protect dingoes, they are only a recent arrival in Australia. The experts tell us they come from Asia and have only been here a few thousand years.
AnswerID: 646800

Follow Up By: Stephen L (Clare) SA - Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 08:18

Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 08:18
The Queensland Museum notes that recent DNA studies suggest dingoes may have been in Australia even longer (between 4,640 and 18,100 years.
Smile like a Crocodile

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

2
FollowupID: 927518

Follow Up By: IvanTheTerrible - Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 19:17

Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 19:17
But are an integral part of the eco system
3
FollowupID: 927519

Follow Up By: IvanTheTerrible - Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 19:31

Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 19:31
So North 200. By your reasoning, were does that put white Australians at only 236 years?
1
FollowupID: 927520

Follow Up By: Member - peter g28 - Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 19:35

Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 19:35
I think this article may answer and debunk some myths surrounding the Dingoe.

Dingoe DNA
1
FollowupID: 927521

Follow Up By: North 200 - Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 09:50

Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 09:50
Thanks for the info Peter
0
FollowupID: 927530

Reply By: Member - Wooly - Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 14:14

Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 14:14
We visited Fraser Island a few months ago and had encounters with Dingoes every day but they were never aggressive or intimidating.

I would be in favor of limiting numbers greatly and maybe more camera surveillance to enable bad behavior to be penalised.
Wooly VKS-737 Mobile 0058

Member
My Profile  Send Message

AnswerID: 646802

Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 23:01

Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 23:01
.
" bad behavior to be penalised."?
Care to expand on that Wooly?
Cheers
Allan

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 927522

Follow Up By: Member - Wooly - Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 23:32

Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 23:32
Hi there Allan,

I mean like hoon driving, feeding dingoes, cruelty to dingoes etc etc

Perhaps limit numbers to about a third or half of current visitor numbers.

Start issuing a few fines so the place gets treated with some respect.
Wooly VKS-737 Mobile 0058

Member
My Profile  Send Message

2
FollowupID: 927523

Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024 at 08:55

Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024 at 08:55
.
Yeah, right Wooly,
Stupidly, I thought you meant dingo "bad behaviour".
"Sorry about that, Chief". lol
Cheers
Allan

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

3
FollowupID: 927524

Follow Up By: AlbyNSW - Wednesday, Nov 13, 2024 at 16:23

Wednesday, Nov 13, 2024 at 16:23
I agree with Wooly. The dingoes are meant to be there just like snakes, spiders, sharks, crocs up north, lions in Africa, bears etc etc.

We are in their domain and need to take the necessary precautions to ensure we and particularly our children are safe .
We need to take accountability for our actions and any associated risks as humans instead of blaming the animals
0
FollowupID: 927528

Reply By: Genny - Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024 at 23:30

Tuesday, Nov 12, 2024 at 23:30
Generally, spot a dingo outside a National Park, and they can't get away from you quick enough. Why? Because they quite rightly know humans are the apex predator. I think that message needs to be conveyed within the national parks, in a relatively humane manner. In the long run, it'd be better for people and dingoes.
AnswerID: 646803

Follow Up By: Gbc.. - Wednesday, Nov 13, 2024 at 06:45

Wednesday, Nov 13, 2024 at 06:45
In the 70’s you were privileged to see one on the island. And at night time the various family groups would sing/howl to each other for hours at night.
The parks have removed the most feral animals and are trying to create separation again but people these days are just getting collectively more stupid I fear and the cycle begins again for an Insta pic.
0
FollowupID: 927527

Follow Up By: sjp - Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 08:50

Thursday, Nov 14, 2024 at 08:50
sometimes i think the management of the park needs rethinking ,how many of you have seen a swamp wallaby on the island in your travels?what are the Dingos eating ,even the Goannas are going from picnic table to picnic table between your legs for food .whats wrong with relieving some of the roads of road kill and resettle some of these pack of mainland kangaroos there ,and before every one starts about disrupting the natural balance where was the outcry when cane toads were doing the same ,Kingfisher resort is full of them .
0
FollowupID: 927529

Follow Up By: Batt's - Monday, Nov 18, 2024 at 17:16

Monday, Nov 18, 2024 at 17:16
Then you'll have people running into roos causing more problems.
It's always good to be able to drive your own vehicle and set up your own camp but I hesitate to say the future might be tour buses with permanent camp's set up behind dingo proof fencing. Then doing the mundane time limited trips to see the highlights with someone employed as a dingo look out keep them at bay or stop people encouraging them in for a pic or a snack.
The ferries will still make good money by charging per person.
0
FollowupID: 927559

Sponsored Links