Tourist is fined an eye-watering $2,300 after he was caught brazenly feeding BISCUITS to a dingo on Fraser Island
- A tourist, 23, fined after admitting feeding dingoes on Fraser Island, Queensland
- Dingoes giving birth to puppies at present and can aggressively hunt food now
- The wild dogs killed a child on the island in 2001 and have bitten several tourists
A tourist has been hit with a $2,300 fine after he was photographed feeding biscuits to a dingo on a holiday island where the species are protected.
The Australian man, 23, was observed feeding the dingo while waiting in line for a ferry on backpacker-favourite Fraser Island which is about 250km north of Brisbane, and is also known as K’gari.
The incident took place in April and he was fined after a bystander took several photos of him feeding the wild dog.
The man, 23, was observed feeding the dingo while waiting in line for a ferry on Fraser Island which is about 250km north of Brisbane and is also known as K’gari
The fine comes as the parks service renews its warnings about the dangerous ‘whelping’ season, which is when dingo puppies are born and the animals aggressively hunt food
The maximum fine for feeding dingoes, also known as wongari, is $11,500.
The fine comes as the parks service renews its warnings about the dangerous ‘whelping’ season, which is when dingo puppies are born.
It lasts until the start of December.
A woman on Fraser Island takes photos of dingoes getting close to tourist vehicles
Dingoes may be determined and aggressive in their search for food at this time of year, the parks service warned.
In 2001 dingoes attacked and killed a child, Clinton Gage, on Fraser Island
Feeding dingoes is banned and the fine sends a strong message to residents and visitors that doing so won’t be tolerated, a Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service spokesman said.
The incident happened in the queue for the Hook Point ferry and is the second such fine issued in 2022.
‘The person said the man was brazenly feeding the wongari, and given his place at the front of the queue, his offending was witnessed by multiple people,’ said Mike Devery of the QPWS.
The parks service rangers also fined campers 22 times in 2022 for leaving food out for dingoes.
In 2001 dingoes attacked and killed a child, Clinton Gage, on Fraser Island and there have been several accounts of dingo bites since.
After the fatal attack over 100 dingoes were culled on Fraser Island but the population is understood to have recovered to more than 200.
When the tourist was interviewed later by Queensland parks service compliance officers he admitted throwing biscuits out of his vehicle to the dingoes.
What does being ‘Dingo safe’ mean?
- Always stay close (within arm’s reach) of children and young teenagers
- Always walk in groups and carry a stick
- 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
How to report dingo encounters:
email [email protected], tell the nearest QPWS ranger, or phone (07) 4127 9150
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