21 February 2024 , 19:02
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Two tourists were attacked by wild dingoes while visiting a popular Queensland island.
The first of the separate attacks took place at around 3pm on Saturday when an 18-year-old woman was mauled on the back of her leg by a tagged dingo on K'gari Island in Queensland. Another person was then mouthed or nipped by a dingo on the beachfront near Dilli Village at about 8pm the same day.
The 18-year-old, who was attacked as she made her way to Lake Wabby, was treated for puncture wounds around her left knee. It's unclear at this stage what injuries the person attacked on Saturday night sustained.
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, which protects and manages K'gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, confirmed that both tourists were part of tour groups when they were bitten by the wild dogs. It's estimated that there are around 200 dingoes on K'gari, with the animals given the freedom to roam all over the island.
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It's estimated that there are around 200 dingoes on K'gari, Queensland (Getty Images)Following the two attacks on Saturday, rangers were making attempts to try and identify the dingoes involved. 'Dangerous' dingo signs were installed at the Lake Wabby entrance, while ranger patrols were increased in the areas of the attacks, Daily Mail reports.
A QPWS statement said the service carried out education activities to promote dingo safety. "The Queensland Government is investing an additional $2 million in funding this financial year and an additional $3 million annually ongoing to expand our proactive Be dingo-safe! messaging," it said.
The statement added: "The Fraser Island Dingo Conservation and Risk Management Strategy was reviewed in 2020 by the Queensland Chief Scientist, with the assistance of an expert panel, and was found to be comprehensive and effective."
According to the QPWS website, dingoes generally "go about their lives and stay clear of people", but there are occasions where "dingoes may come close and some encounters can turn to tragedy". People are reminded never to feed dingoes and always stay within arm's reach of children, even small teenagers, the website says.
Last year a woman in her 20s was bitten on the buttocks while sunbathing on K'gari, while a 10-year-old boy was walking along the seafront on the island’s west coast when a dingo grabbed him by the shoulder and dragged him under. His 12-year-old sister rushed to help him and he suffered puncture wounds to his arms and shoulders.
K’gari Assistant Principal Ranger Danielle Mansfield said tourists were failing to appropriately supervise their children and said adults must be aware of their kid's whereabouts at all times. She said: "On K’gari, this means children and teenagers must be within arm’s reach of an adult at all times, even if you can’t see any dingoes in the area."