K’gari dingo attack: Two tourists bitten by wild canines on Queensland holiday island
Two tourists have been bitten by wild dingoes in separate attacks on a popular Queensland island.
An 18-year-old woman was mauled on the back of her leg by a tagged dingo at K’gari in Queensland at 3pm on Saturday.
It is understood the woman was attacked as she headed to Lake Wabby on the island.
In the second attack, a person was punched or pinched in the mouth by a dingo on the beach at Dilli Village around 8pm on Saturday.
It has been confirmed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service that both tourists were part of tour groups.
There were two separate dingo attacks on the popular K’Gari on Saturday. Both visitors to the island were in tour groups
An 18-year-old woman was heading to Lake Wabby on the island when she was bitten on the back of her leg. Rangers posted warning signs at the entrance to the lake on Sunday morning
The 18-year-old woman was treated for stab wounds around her left knee.
It is unclear what injuries the person attacked on Saturday evening suffered.
Rangers tried to contact people on Sunday morning and identify both dingoes that attacked the tourists.
Dangerous dingo signs were placed at the entrance to Lake Wabby on Sunday morning.
Rangers will also increase patrols in the areas of the attacks.
Visitors to K’Gari are reminded to be vigilant at all times as the dingo breeding season begins.
Tourists are warned to keep children under constant supervision.
A statement from QPWS said the service conducts education and compliance activities at K’Gari throughout the year.
Rangers maintain the fences at the various campgrounds around the community of Orchid Beach and also conduct daily patrols of the island.
Dingoes are a protected species on K’Gari and each dingo has unique markings
K’Gari is popular with tourists and campers, but visitors have been warned to remain vigilant as we enter dingo breeding season
QPWS also responds to human-dingo interactions on a case-by-case basis.
βThe Queensland Government is investing an additional $2 million in funding this financial year and a further $3 million annually to further our proactive Be dingo-safe! messages,β it said.
They said the money will also support 13 new jobs in dingo ‘conservation and management’.
‘The Fraser Island Dingo Conservation and Risk Management Strategy was reviewed by the Queensland Chief Scientist in 2020, with the assistance of a panel of experts, and found to be comprehensive and effective.’
There is only one recorded death on K’Gari by a dingo.
In 2001, two dingoes chased and attacked a nine-year-old when he tripped and fell near a campsite. The dingoes also destroyed his brother.
Anyone with information about the two attacks or other negative dingo interactions is urged to contact QPWS rangers.