A “high-risk” animal that attacked a woman on K’gari this week has become the second dingo to be euthanised by Queensland rangers in two months.
The animal was killed on Wednesday after being one of a pack of several dingoes that mauled a 23-year-old woman who was airlifted to hospital on Monday.
The woman suffered multiple bite wounds to her limbs and torso after being chased by the dingoes and corralled into the water, reportedly while out jogging.
Two men in a four-wheel drive stopped to help, with one receiving an injury to his hand while fighting off the animals.
It’s understood the dingo was tranquillised before being euthanised via an injection on Wednesday.
A department of environment spokesperson said the dingo had been “captured and humanely euthanised.”
The dingo had been responsible for another “recent threatening and biting incident” which resulted in the hospitalisation of a six-year-old girl, according to the spokesperson.
The animal was around two years old and weighed more than 17kg when it was fitted with a monitoring collar in April. The spokesperson said that weight “is heavy for a wongari (dingo) and a clear indication that it has been fed.”
“It was also clear from its behaviour that it had become habituated, either by being fed or from people interacting with it for videos and selfies,” they said.
“The animal had lost its natural wariness of people, and entering campsites or loitering around people is not normal dingo behaviour.”
An investigation into the incident is ongoing as rangers work to identify the other dingoes involved.
“Should the other animals be identified, we will consider our management options,” the spokesperson said.
Queensland’s environment minister, Leanne Linard, on Tuesday said it was a “significant step to euthanise a dingo.”
“[Destroying the animal is] obviously a consideration that will be made by rangers in conjunction with traditional owners,” she told reporters.
The state government euthanised another dingo last month, the first since 2019, after several incidents on the island, including attacks on a seven-year-old boy and a 42-year-old woman.
Aboriginal rangers have urged tourists to follow the safety warnings, with no shortage of signage on the island and information available.
“[The warnings] are everywhere – before you even book to go over there,” Tessa Waia, from the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, told NITV News.
“They’re being ignorant and don’t want to follow what we’re putting out there which are these safety messages.”
Linard said while the animals may look “cute” it was important to remember they were “wild animals”.
“We want to reduce the number of negative interactions,” she said. “I know people love to see dingoes when they go to the island, but there can be negative interactions if precautions are not taken.”
