They may appear cute and cuddly, but these pups are apex predators who will soon be hunting down kangaroos and other prey.
Trail cameras set by Queensland's Department of Environment and Science (DES) has captured footage of the dingo puppies on K'gari-Fraser Island emerging from their dens.
It shows a litter of pups growling at each other as one tries to protect his food from four siblings.
"The puppies are aged between two to three months old," said Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation ranger coordinator Chantel Van Wamelen.
"It's weaning time now so parents are teaching the pups survival skills. The pups are growing up and venturing away from their dens.
Ms Van Wamelen said visitors to the World Heritage site could expect to see more juveniles on their own in coming months.
"Some people might think they've been abandoned but their parents are usually not far away," she said.
"Sometimes they're left in safe places while the adults are out hunting food for them.
"They won't start hunting until they're on their own — about six or seven months old."
Ms Van Wamelen warned visitors to the island to be wary, as dingo mothers could be protective and aggressive during the whelping season.
Plenty of prey
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) ranger in charge Linda Behrendorff said the trail cameras helped to monitor what the wongari — or wild dingoes— were feeding on.
"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.
"They also get access to marine animals that wash ashore. Seasonally there are plentiful sources of fruits such as midgen berry."
Keep your distance
Anyone caught feeding dingoes could face fines of up to $10,000.
"There are fines for interacting and deliberately or inadvertently feeding wongari," Ms Behrendorff said.
"Wongari mums that are feeding pups can also lose conditioning and become naturally lean during this time.
"If you do feel threatened, stay calm, stand up at full height, face the dingo and don't try to run," Ms Van Wamelen said.
"Calmly walk away until you're in a safe area to call for help."
