Dingo death prompts warning about domestication
Port Douglas Dingoes
A dingo found dead by the roadside near the Sheraton grounds in Port Douglas is almost certainly local to the area and may have been kept as a pet, dingo protection crusader Luke Cooper says.
Steve Kitto posted to the Port Douglas Notice Board on Monday images of the dingo which had been left dead on the roadside after being hit by a car.
“Unfortunately, this poor fellow is a result of a hit-and-run about half an hour ago outside the Sheraton. His body has been taken to the Wildlife Habitat but have come to realise that it could be someone’s pet that was seen around the beach shack area early this morning.’’
It raised speculation the animal could be a commonly seen semi domesticated dog known as “Dingo the Dingo’.
But a comment from Toni Termonen just an hour after the news was posted confirmed “Dingo” was safe.
“Very unfortunate. Dingo the Dingo from the beach shack this morning has been spotted chilling out on a sofa 5 min ago so he's doing proper well!’’ the post said.
Mr Cooper said he was aware of the details of the dingo and that it had been taken into the bush by those who found it as they “felt that was the better thing to do” as a dignified spot for the body to be placed.
Mr Cooper has been collecting DNA of the local dingo population and was getting a location of the dog in order to take a sample.
But comments about the possibility the dingo had been domesticated were “very concerning”, Mr Cooper said.
“As dingoes are very different to domestic dogs. Dog food actually harms them,’’ he said.
“This shows that there's a strong need for permanent signage indicating the colours of dingoes in the region.
“He has exact the colouration found in the area. It’s safe to assume he is one of the local dingoes and/or been kept local.
“RIP Dingo.’’
RELATED COVERAGE:
Dingoes in Douglas Shire Council sights
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