Two of the Fraser Island campsites that were temporarily closed because of inappropriate visitor interaction with dingoes have re-opened.
Camping Zones 4 and 5, from Happy Valley to Eli Creek and Eli Creek to The Pinnacles are now open … while the Wathumba campground and Teebing camping area are scheduled to re-open on June 30.
The Department of Environment and Science said the closures had helped prevent issues between people and dingoes (wongari).
“Rangers have conducted regular patrols during the closure, and whilst wongari activity in the Eli Creek area and Wathumba has been low, visitors and residents are reminded to be vigilant and be dingo-safe,” said Acting Regional Director, Stephen Price. “We are coming into wongari whelping season … there are dens around the Eli Creek area, and I’d like to remind people that wongari can become aggressive during whelping season.”
Mr Price said people planning on visiting the island should check the Department’s park alerts page, and camping area bookings can be made online.
“Rangers take a zero-tolerance approach to people who deliberately or inadvertently feed or interact with dingoes, and an on the spot fine of $2135 can be issued,” he said. “If you’re planning on visiting or camping on the island, please don’t feed the wongari and don’t entice them for selfies or close-up photos.”
With tailor season about to start, fishermen were also urged to act responsibly.
“Fishers are reminded to bury fish frames and discarded bait at least 50cm deep, and be aware that wongari may try to steal bait and fish as they are being reeled in,” Mr Price said. “Dingoes on K’gari are not starving and have access to plenty of natural food … feeding dingoes can result in the animals becoming habituated, and they can lose their natural wariness of people.”
It’s time that people who interact with these animals are BANNED from Fraser Island and increase the fines for all. It is the only way we humans will learn.
Absolutely agree Neil. The dingo ‘issue’ is a human issue. If caught feeding or interacting with dingoes, impose a HUGE fine and ban them from ever coming back to Fraser. Call it what it is, a human problem.
Dingoes are not native to Australia, so why are they not treated the same as other introduced pests and feral animals?
inappropriate visitor interaction with dingoes ??? So now we have #1 Sharks, #2 Crocodiles, #3 Snakes, #4 Dingoes, #5 Humans. Numbers 1 to 4 can kill, eat, bite humans but human can’t touch them. How many dingoes were on Fraser say 100 years ago?. How many are on Fraser now after human attendance? I noticed they are spending 2 million on a fence so they don’t eat the babies at the resort. Unbelievable. Palms