Tension rises on K’gari after dingo attacks tourist
10 Aug 2023 – A dingo has bitten a woman tourist on K’gari (Fraser Island), just hours after Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers warned visitors about threatening dingo behavior in the area.
The concerning attack occurred yesterday at the popular Eli Creek spot on the eastern side of K’gari, where dingoes are known to frequent. According to rangers, a pack of dingoes approached and circled a group of seven adults around midday. One dingo then lunged at a woman in the group, before being momentarily scared off by a man throwing a stick.
But just minutes later, the same aggressive dingo stealthily approached another woman from behind and bit her upper thigh, leaving visible teeth marks, before fleeing. The shaken woman declined medical assistance.
This incident follows a safety alert sent by rangers via text and email on Thursday morning, after multiple reports of threatening dingo interactions with tourists at both Eli Creek and Waddy Point near Orchid Beach over the past few days. The alerts urgently reminded visitors to take precautions like travelling in groups, carrying sticks, not running or jogging, and refraining from interacting with the wild dogs.
In a bid to curb dangerous dingo interactions, rangers have also released concerning footage of a man blatantly holding out a water bottle to a dingo at Waddy Point last weekend – reckless behavior that could warrant a hefty $2,474 fine. Senior ranger Linda Behrendorff was quoted by the ABC as saying it was “incredibly disappointing to see people deliberately interacting and engaging with dingoes in this way.”
“It can quickly condition dingoes to become habituated to humans and poses a significant risk to public safety on the island,” she warned.
This latest attack comes less than a month after a female jogger was viciously mauled by a pack of dingoes on the northern beaches, resulting in one of the dogs having to be put down.
Though dingoes are protected on K’gari, rangers emphasize they can and do bite, with devastating consequences. Carrying sticks is encouraged not just to ward off curious dingoes, but also to help people stay calm if approached.
These precautions will keep you, others and the dingoes safe on K’gari, the QPWS spokesperson reiterated. Rangers have increased patrols on the island to mitigate risks and manage visitor safety.
