Australia has routinely shot, trapped, and poisoned one of its most important native predators because it’s known to sometimes kill sheep.
Now, NSW has launched a parliamentary inquiry into two key issues that have been routinely overlooked when it comes to dingoes living in national parks:
Research from the University of NSW and Adelaide University has consistently demonstrated that most animals referred to as “wild dogs” by state governments are actually dingoes.
This means even those with black, white or brown markings have a high percentage of dingo DNA.
Dingos can have black, white or brown markings, or a mixture of all three.
(Credit: Ian Brown/Michelle J Photography)
The inquiry will be chaired by Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst, who said it “provides an opportunity to consider how they are classified, managed and conserved in national parks”.
Members of the public, interested stakeholders, First Nations groups, government bodies, and community organisations are invited to provide submissions to the inquiry via this link.
Are dingoes actually native?
Some have argued that the dingo should not be considered a true native species because it is believed to have migrated from Papua New Guinea around 3,500 to 5,000 years ago.
But when we consider this in historical terms, even the lower end is a very long time ago.
During this period, Europe was experiencing the late Bronze Age, Egypt’s New Kingdom was flourishing, and the beginnings of Christianity were still 1,500 years away.
A NSW inquiry will examine how dingoes in the state’s national parks are classified and managed.
(Michelle J Photography/Ian Brown)Dingoes regarded as ‘pests’ by authorities
Dingoes played an important cultural role in many First Nations societies, but following the arrival of British settlers, the species was wiped out from much of Australia and declared a pest.
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The species was treated similarly to wolves, which were exterminated across Britain, Japan, and Mexico, and only occupies 6 to 10 per cent of their historical range in the United States.
Few remain in Victoria and the ACT, and South Australia continues to work towards eradication on the southern side of its controversial “wild dog” fence.
Today, property owners are required to cull them in parts of South Australia, Queensland and NSW.
Dingoes can present in multiple colours.
(Getty)
And they’re routinely killed by state governments inside the borders of national parks to prevent them from spreading onto private land.
Over in Adelaide, the zoo is required by the government to inform visitors viewing the dingo exhibit that they’re a “pest”.
The issue dingo advocates want ‘put to bed’
Alix Livingstone, the founding director of the animal advocacy group Defend the Wild, said the myth that dingoes are wild dogs is dominant.
“Most people don’t realise that we’re actually controlling dingoes across our national parks,” she told Yahoo News.
She hopes the new inquiry will ensure the expertise of cultural custodians, scientists, and conservationists is heard.
“Dingoes are managed under the misnomer of wild dogs… and we want to see that issue raised and put to bed as well,” she said.
A sign at Adelaide Zoo, which has been mandated by the government, declares dingoes a “pest”.
(Zoos SA)
Humane World for Animals (formerly Humane Society International) said the inquiry was a “milestone in the effort to end the persecution of the species”.
Its program director, Dr Renae Charalambous, believes it could “turn the tide on the state’s relationship” with the species, which she characterised as unnecessarily “cruel”.
“For too long, dingoes have been trapped, poisoned, shot and otherwise vilified under a false ‘wild dog’ moniker or at the hands of industry lobbying,” she said.
“It’s time we saw justice for this iconic Australian species and ensured its safe future in national parks and beyond.”
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