Big cats, bats, crocs and now dingoes
WILD DOGS ROAM PORT
First it was the big cats photographed by locals, then crocs roaming the streets of Port Douglas, Ulysses Ave to be exact, bats (flying foxes) invading a local gated community, and now dingoes are hanging around the town centre in ever growing numbers.
John, a part time taxi driver, saw one in the headlights of his cab in the wee small hours and took a pic for Newsport. "It might look small in the photograph, in real life it was big," said John.
He came upon the wild dog near the Community Hall and Library in Mowbray Street but says it’s not the only place they hang around “The land around the Sheraton is home to a few and they also inhabit an area near the Wildlife Habitat” added John.
History goes way back.
Of course, most people when they hear the name ‘Dingo’ take their thoughts back to Azaria Chamberlain, who we now know was taken by a dingo at Ayers Rock (Uluru) on August 17, 1980.
Dingoes are an ancient breed of domestic dog that was introduced to Australia, probably by Asian seafarers, about 4,000 years ago. Although they never roamed Tasmania, it’s thought that the dingo contributed to the extinction of mainland Thylacines (Tasmanian Tiger) by becoming competition for the available food sources. Dingoes tend to be nocturnal in warmer regions such as ours so chances of seeing them during daylight hours is slim.
Since European colonisation, farmers have often viewed dingoes as the enemy, waging war against them to protect their livestock using traps, shooting, poisoned baits and even building a 5,600km dingo fence, the world’s longest.
Friend or foe?
Are they the enemy? Well, that depends on who you ask. Some graziers in other States, including WA are now singing their praises. According to the pro dingo brigade, the creatures can be allies for graziers by reducing the competition for pasture from wild herbivores such as kangaroos and goats, as well as killing or scaring off foxes and feral cats. While some farmers might be sympathetic to the dingo’s cause, these wild dogs are considered pests in the Douglas Shire along with feral cats and pigs.
According to local authorities our dingoes are generally not aggressive to people however they may display threatening behaviour in urban areas such as attacking pets, scavenging, or stalking. Domestic pets and poultry are best protected by dog mesh fencing. If you see them in your area, maybe try and take a pic for Newsport, but in a safe manner of course.
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