Dingo management plan fast tracked following toddler attack

Following the experience of a family on K’gari (Fraser Island) whose 14 month old boy was recently dragged from a campervan by dingoes, Queensland Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch has fast tracked a safety and dingo management plan. The plan starts with boosting ranger numbers by 50% on K’gari over the remaining Easter and Anzac Day holiday periods and increasing face to face conversations with visitors.

The toddler, the third child snatched by dingoes in recent months, suffered a fractured skull and puncture wounds to his head and neck when two dingoes dragged the boy by his head from the camper trailer in the early hours of Friday morning.

His parents say their son is doing well following a second round of surgery at Brisbane’s Children Hospital.

Minister Enoch advised “our thoughts are with the little boy and his family who have been through this tragic ordeal.

“The extra rangers will ensure all visitors to the island are remaining vigilant and following the dingo safe messaging."

Amid claims campers on the island are failing to adequately protect themselves from dingoes by ignoring dingo-safe messaging, the first paramedic to treat the boy has said the parents are not at fault in any way.

Paramedic Ben Du Toit told 9News “I can state that the parents did everything right. They weren’t at fault in any way. From the dad’s description, everything was shut up tight when they went to bed." 

Minister Enoch advised that “the Implementation Plan was due to be reviewed later in the year, but I have asked the Department of Environment and Science to review it as a matter of urgency.

“The management of dingoes on K’gari is complex, and the Government is committed to supporting a sustainable and healthy dingo population, while minimising the risks to human safety and dingo welfare.

“It is time to analyse the dingo risk management implementation plan to determine if more work needs to be done to improve visitor safety.

“The continued safety of visitors to K’gari is a priority, and we want to ensure all the actions the Government undertakes in relation to dingoes is based on the best available science and advice.”

The Implementation Plan outlines the action behind the Fraser Island Dingo Conservation and Risk Management Strategy, which was prepared with expert input and implemented by a team guided by qualified scientists.

The Implementation Plan outlines the on-ground actions to: reduce negative interactions between dingoes and people; promote communication and education, ensure people comply with the rules (such as not feeding dingoes), and assess of all of these measures.

Minister Enoch concluded “the review is also a good opportunity to explore ways to improve our partnership with K’gari’s Traditional Owners and increase their involvement in dingo management.

“The Government is committed to continue working with the Butchulla People Traditional Owners on K’Gari in a cooperative management arrangement to manage the iconic natural and cultural values of the island.

“Last year we announced four new funded positions for Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation as part of the Queensland Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program.

“We know education and compliance is a major factor in keeping visitors safe on the island, and rangers need to work closely with Traditional Owners - Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation - to ensure all visitors and residents on K’gari are dingo-safe.

“This includes regular education and speaking to campers, tourists, resort management and staff about reducing the risk of negative interactions between dingoes and people.

“The review of the Implementation Plan will also look at whether any improvements can be made to messaging around dingo safety to ensure visitors and dingoes can co-exist harmoniously on K’gari.

“With up to 400,000 visitors to K’gari every year, it is important we continually refine our communication strategy to ensure everyone’s safety.”

Rangers continuously patrol areas on K’gari, and step-up their presence during holiday periods, such as the Easter long weekend.

Following the recent attack, rangers have been visiting campsites to speak to visitors about remaining vigilant and ensuring people are following messaging about being dingo safe:

• Always stay close (within arm’s reach) of children and young teenagers
• Always walk in groups
• Camp in fenced areas where possible
• Do not run. Running or jogging can trigger a negative dingo interaction
• Never feed dingoes
• Lock up food stores and iceboxes (even on a boat)
• Never store food or food containers in tents, and
• Secure all rubbish, fish and bait

For more information go to parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/fraser/fraser-island-dingoes