A string of dingo attacks at one of Australia’s most popular tourist and camping destinations has local politicians urging for greater caution. The Fraser Coast mayor now wants to enforce a ban on children under 12 camping outside of fenced-in areas on Fraser Island (renamed K’gari in June, 2023), a world heritage site sand island east of Brisbane. Fears are mounting that these attacks could turn deadly.
“This is getting to the stage where it is frightening, whether the next one will be a fatality or not,” Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour told ABC News Australia.
Already, just in 2024, there have been 16 “high-risk” dingo attacks at K’gari, according to the Australian Department of Environment, Science and Innovation. Nine of those involved children. The most recent attack left a 4-year-old girl so badly mauled she had to be air-lifted to a hospital. The wild dog grabbed the toddler by the chest, causing a puncture wound and numerous cuts, according to Department of Environment rangers at K’gari.
It’s already recommended that children camp in fenced-in areas. Mayor Seymour is now working with local authorities to turn that recommendation into an official ordinance.
“I just don’t think that it is an appropriate place for children to be, given the number of attacks, the changing nature of attacks, and the potential for a fatality here,” the mayor said.
Dingos Want to Eat Your Baby
K’gari only has a population of 152 residents. But the world heritage site sees between 400,000 and 500,000 visitors annually as of a 2021 census. It is the largest sand island in the world, and unlike most sand islands, plant life thrives on K’gari.
Wildlife is abundant, too. There are 74 different species of reptiles on K’gari, 350 species of birds, and 25 to 50 species of mammals. The dingos on K’gari are one of the area’s most iconic animals. It’s believed they are the last species not yet cross-bred with dogs in Eastern Australia. As such, the dingos are protected by law, and dogs are not allowed at K’gari.
Typically, the dingos won’t bother people on K’gari. They usually hunt kangaroos, wallabies, feral pigs, wombats, and small mammals or scavenge for dead animals. So, human attacks are relatively rare.
But they’ve become an increasing issue for K’gari tourists, especially those traveling with children. These wild dogs are known to target children because they pose less of a threat, according to the Queensland Department of Environment and Science. There have only ever been a handful of child fatalities from dingo attacks. But Fraser Coast’s Mayor fears another fatality is imminent if something isn’t done to prevent it.
Of the 16 “high-risk” interactions recorded so far in 2024, victims were lunged at, nipped, or bitten by dingos. The proposed ordinance would potentially prevent more dingo attacks at campgrounds. But, Queensland Minister for the Environment Leanne Linard warned that people, and families in particular, should always be wary when visiting the world heritage site.
“The risk is not isolated to camping areas,” Linard told ABC News. “People must remain vigilant on the island at all times.”
