The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is investigating two incidents on K’gari where two collared dingoes approached a group of adults before biting a woman on the thigh.
Around 11:45am, the dingoes approached and circled seven adults at Eli Creek when one of the dingoes lunged and mouthed a woman on the thigh.
A member of the group threw a stick at the dingoes and scared them off.
The dingoes went down Eli Creek and around 11:50am, approached a woman from behind.
When she turned around and saw the dingo, she fell and was bitten on the thigh.
Rangers provided assistance to the woman and offered medical treatment which was declined.
The investigation into both incidents is ongoing.
Meanwhile, rangers have been left dismayed following another dangerous, unprovoked interaction between a man and dingo on K’gari.
Senior Ranger Linda Behrendorff said the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) recently received a video showing the man holding out a water bottle to a dingo near Waddy Point beach on the weekend.
“After the recent incidents on K’gari, it is disappointing that anyone would choose to deliberately interact with a wongari,” Ms Behrendorff said.
“Following those incidents between people and dingoes, rangers have increased their patrols and our camping area education.
“And despite our efforts and the publicity surrounding those recent incidents, people are still engaging with dingoes on K’gari.
“This man has ignored the safety messaging he would have seen on the barge over to the island and all the signage on the island advising people to keep their distance.
“People must understand that just one interaction like this can set dingoes on the path to becoming habituated, and ignoring this means ignoring the consequences for human safety and for the dingoes.
“Deliberate interactions like this are extremely frustrating, because rangers have to manage people and wongari on K’gari.
“The focus of rangers should be on managing the wongari on the island, rather than visitors who should be able to manage themselves and Be Dingo-safe! to reduce the risks of negative interactions.
“It is poor people behaviour that causes many of the negative interactions on the island,” she said.
Ms Behrendorff said the man appeared to be a part of a large group of people, and he wasn’t aware he was being filmed.
The man is liable to receive a $2,474 fine, and anyone with information can call 4127 9150.
People on the island must follow Be Dingo-safe! messaging to reduce the risk of a negative interaction.
Visitors to Fraser Island are reminded to be dingo safe at all times:
Always stay close (within arm’s reach) of children and young teenagers
Always walk in groups
Always carry a stick when walking
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, and
Secure all rubbish, fish and bait.
