Holiday horror when a toddler is attacked by a dingo while his family was camping in a national park
- Dingo attacked a two-year-old in WA
- Toddler suffered serious injuries
Park rangers and rangers have launched an urgent hunt to track down a dingo that attacked a two-year-old boy and left him with serious injuries.
The toddler was attacked by the wild dog at Dales Campground in Karijini National Park, in outback Western Australia, on Friday night.
He was rushed to Tom Price Hospital with “serious but non-life-threatening injuries.”
The Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions confirmed the attack, confirming that Parks and Wildlife Service rangers are on site preparing to “destroy” the dingo responsible.
Wildlife authorities prepare to hunt a dingo (stock image) that seriously injured a child at a popular campsite in Western Australia
Signage (above) at Dales Campground in Karijini National Park warns tourists that dingoes are present and dangerous
“Visitor safety is our number one priority,” the department said.
“Because of the dingo’s aggressive behavior and the fact that it remained at the campsite after the incident, rangers are preparing to humanely destroy the animal as soon as a safe opportunity presents itself.
Dingo attacks are rare in Western Australia’s national parks and the department is not aware of any similar incidents in this area.
“Anyone who has a dingo encounter at a Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions managed campground or park should report details to park staff or a campground host.”
Dingoes are common at Dales Campground, where signage warns visitors not to feed and handle the animals and to supervise children at all times.
Nearly 1,400km north of Perth, Dales Campground is a popular tourist spot for those looking to explore Karijini National Park.
Dales Campground (above) is a popular spot for those looking to explore Karijini National Park
Karijini National Park (above) is a well-known scenic spot in WA’s outback and is known for its natural swimming holes
The park is known for its layered deep red gorges, waterfalls and natural swimming pools.
The last notable attack in the area was at the Pilbara Newcrest Mining site in 2018, when security guard Debbie Rundle, 54, was run over and killed.
Two dingoes attacked the mother while she was having lunch in the outside lunch areas of the facility.
Newcrest was fined more than $105,000 for the incident.