STAY AWAY: New signage critical to heighten safety message around Tropical dingoes
ACT RESPONSIBLY
An expert has implored Douglas Shire Council to erect new warning signs as a matter of priority after some members of the public were viewed getting too up close and personal with local tropical dingoes.
Luke Cooper said he viewed a recent video “of people approaching a Douglas Shire Dingo with a video camera quite closely” which he said was a “huge concern”.
A short time ago there unconfirmed reports of a dingo wandering in and around Ellis Beach.
Mr Cooper’s lobbying for new warning signs comes in the wake of a number of recent encounters between humans and dingoes at K’gari, a sand island 300kms north of Brisbane which saw a 23-year-old woman bitten by a dingo – that dingo was captured and euthanised just days later.
Just days ago a spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Science (DES) said there had been “133 threatening or high-risk incidents between humans and dingoes since the beginning of this year”.
It’s understood members of the public wanting selfies with wild dingoes, feeding them, or generally demonstrating bad practice in their presence are reasons for the increased attacks.
“Dingoes are naturally curious and if you do decide to run this may incur their natural chase/prey drive,” Mr Cooper exclusively told Newsport.
“Like any wild animal the best thing to do if you encounter a wild dingo/dingoes is not to intentionally engage/ or actively approach them.
“Do not feed them - they are naturally lean and know how to find food; feeding them can encourage dingoes to seek out humans to help them find food or encourage negative interactions.
“Dingo attacks are extremely rare.
“Admire them from a distance they are beautiful animals and like crocodiles, sharks and eagles they play an important role in our ecosystem as apex Predators.
“The Douglas Shire needs to have signs so we continue to only have dingo positive interactions and can keep our pure dingoes around for generations to come.”
Thank you!
Newsport thanks its advertising partners for their support in the delivery of daily community news to the Douglas Shire. Public interest journalism is a fundamental part of every community.
Got a news tip? Let us know! Send your news tips or submit a letter to the editor here.
* Comments are the opinions of readers and do not represent the views of Newsport, its staff or affiliates. Reader comments on Newsport are moderated before publication to promote valuable, civil, and healthy community debate. Visit our comment guidelines if your comment has not been approved for publication.