Dingo bites French sunbather on Fraser Island in Queensland, K’gari

Tourists have been warned to watch out for dingoes when visiting a popular camping spot after disturbing footage emerged of a tourist being smothered by the wild animal while sunbathing.

The shocking footage was filmed a few weeks before a 10-year-old boy was attacked and dragged underwater by a dingo on K’gari Island – formerly known as Fraser Island.

The boy suffered stab wounds to his shoulder and bruises to his collarbone in the attack, which took place on June 16 on the west coast of K’gari Island, in front of a camping area.

Assistant Chief Ranger Danielle Mansfield said park rangers were closely monitoring the wongari (dingo) responsible, photographed with blood spattering on his face and paws on the day of the attack, although there were no plans to euthanize him.

“The boy’s 12-year-old sister who was nearby reacted quickly and ran to his aid,” she said.

“The family treated the boy for stab wounds to his shoulder and arms and scrapes and bruises to his collarbone and arm.”

Dash cam footage captured by rangers two weeks before the attack shows a dingo chasing a young boy and an adult man near where the 10-year-old was dragged into the water.

The dingo was subsequently euthanized for ‘bad behaviour’, although there are currently no plans to euthanize whoever is responsible for the recent June 16 attack.

It comes a few weeks after another dingo was euthanized following a series of attacks, including on a French tourist in his 20s who was sunbathing on the eastern side of the World Heritage-listed island.

Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science (DES) told the ABC the attack, which was caught on camera, took place in April or May.

The decision to humanely euthanize the animal earlier this month was made after it attacked several other tourists, including a seven-year-old boy and a 42-year-old woman.

Rangers said there have been several instances on the island where visitors have required help after being stalked or growled by the wild animals.

Ms Mansfield said tourists did not keep a close eye on their children, which meant they had to stay within reach of an adult at all times on the island.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service provided medical assistance to the boy, who suffered no serious injuries, but his family refused.

The animal was later seen “loitering” near the campsite, digging up food scraps buried in the sand.

Rangers kept a close eye on the wongari (dingo) responsible, photographed with blood spattering across his face (pictured) and paws on the day of the attack

The dingo in the vision (pictured) approached the woman lying on the beach

This particular dingo was “one of many” that showed no human suspicion whatsoever, a result of humans intentionally or unintentionally feeding the wongari, rangers say.

“Rangers chased the animal away from the campsite and we have increased patrols in the region to monitor the wongari’s behavior and pass dingo-safe messages to campers and visitors,” Ms Mansfield said.

“These animals are capable of inflicting serious damage, and they have bitten children and adults, and some are quite brutal and don’t flee when yelled at or waved with a stick.”

“People think it won’t happen to them, but it could happen to anyone and that’s why rangers are giving dingo-safe information to as many people as possible,” she said.

“We don’t want any incidents on K’gari, and people need to understand that dingoes are wild animals and should never be fed or interacted with.”

Rangers say visitors throwing away food or deliberately feeding the dingoes has directly caused “current and historical problems” between the animals and people on the island.

“This needs to stop now and people need to make the personal safety of (visitors) and the safety of their friends and family a priority,” Ms Mansfield said.

The dingo or wongari is considered native wildlife under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and is protected in national parks.

K’gari is a World Heritage-listed island off the southeast coast of Queensland and part of the Great Sandy National Park, known for its long beaches, forests and pristine freshwater lakes.