Glamorous Gold Coast influencer Zara Mander slammed for petting wild dingo on K’gari in social media post despite recent attacks on humans
Glamorous Gold Coast influencer Zara Mander was criticized for petting wild dingoes on K’gari in a social media post, despite recent attacks on humans
A social media influencer has come under fire after sharing a photo of herself interacting with a wild dingo online, just weeks after recent attacks.
Zara Mander posted several photos of her on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) on Thursday afternoon, including one showing the 21-year-old crouched on a beach reaching out to a dingo.
The post was shared with her 100,000 followers before being deleted 20 hours later after several comments criticized her “entitled” behavior.
“I will report you,” one user commented.
“Stay away from the island bastard,” said another.
“People like you ruin it for everyone.”
Influencer Zara Mander shared several photos of her on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) before deleting them 20 hours later after several scathing comments about her interaction with a wild dingo (pictured)
Her post was also reshared in a local Facebook group, where it generated similar responses.
“Dear God, do you know what you just did to this animal?” Save Fraser Island Dingoes (SFID) responded.
‘How could you!!!! Don’t see a label in the ear? Do you even know what that means?’
According to SFID, reports continue to emerge of people flouting the rules, children being left alone, visitors enticing and feeding the animals, while others chase them with ‘dingo sticks’ and other objects.
The 21-year-old (pictured) was told to ‘stay off the island’ and that she would be ‘reported’ by angry locals in her comments section
The organization was ‘frustrated’ and ‘disappointed’ that ‘people are still flouting the rules, despite the ample signage and educational material available’.
“Unfortunately, some people feel they have the right to do whatever they want without considering the environment and the consequences their actions may have,” SFID told us. The courier post.
‘We ask that anyone who witnesses the dingoes being fed, enticed or harassed to report it to the authorities.’
It may take one incident like this to put a wongari (dingo) on the path of habituation, a spokesperson for the Department of Environment and Science (DES) said.
“Our first priority is to keep the people of K’gari safe and sustain the population of Wongari.”
The incident comes after two women were bitten by two dingoes in separate attacks on K’gari last month (photo, stock)
“Residents and visitors to the island should not behave in a way that endangers themselves, other people or wongari,” she added.
‘Deliberately feeding or approaching wongari can put people at risk.’
The incident comes just days after a third ‘high-risk’ dingo (wongari) was euthanized on the island, while a second dingo was ‘closely monitored’.
There has been a recent spate of dingo attacks on K’gari, with two women bitten five minutes apart in separate attacks last month.
The first woman was bitten at around 11.45am on August 10 at the popular swimming spot Eli Creek, on the island’s east coast.
The woman was one of seven adults surrounded by the dingo before it attacked.
“One of the wongari (dingoes) punched and mouthed a woman on the thigh,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment and Science told the newspaper. Courier mail.
Authorities warned visitors and residents of K’gari to be vigilant around dingoes after several attacks in recent months (photo, stock)
“A member of the group threw a stick at the wongari and chased them away.”
The second woman was attacked just five minutes later after another dingo wandered down the creek and approached her from behind.
“When the woman turned around and saw the wongari, she fell and was bitten on the thigh,” the DES spokesperson said.
Visitors are encouraged to be dingo safe and report intentional interactions by calling 07 4127 9150 or emailing dingo.ranger@des.qld.gov.au.