The Department of Environment and Science (DES) has used trail cameras to capture the moment when young wongari (dingo) pups on K’gari (Fraser Island) emerge from their dens for the first time.
Ranger in Charge of K’gari for the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), Linda Behrendorff said the pups were between two and three months old, and were on a steep learning curve.
“The pups are learning natural hunting and survival skills from their parents, so it is critical that people leave them alone and don’t get too close,” Ms Behrendorff said.
“They’re being weaned and are now feeding on the types of food they’ll eat for the rest of their lives,” she said.
Ms Behrendorff said limiting wongari-human interaction was important for the pups’ welfare as they ventured out of their dens and explored the island.
“The pups are usually part of a pack that includes two adults and one or more sub-adults, and the pups are curious and skittish and don’t like being too far from their parents,” Ms Behrendorff said.
“The trail cameras show there are plenty of natural prey species on the island, including wallabies and bandicoots, to support the dingo population.”
She said the animals also often consumed marine animals that washed ashore, while there were plentiful sources of fruits such as midgen berry in season.
Ms Behrendorff said wongari pups could be observed on the island, but only from a safe distance.
She reminded the public to always carry a stick; never feed dingoes; walk in groups; camp in fenced areas when possible; and lock up food stores and iceboxes (even on a boat).
Dingo encounters can be reported on email at [email protected], or to the nearest QPWS ranger.
