![\"Pack](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/839c4076dc0fdbe615862d4c9e89caf6.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nQueensland government officers have euthanased dingoes involved in the death of a Canadian backpacker on K’gari.<\/p>\n
The body of Piper James was found surrounded by a pack of approximately 10 dingoes on K\u2019gari\u2019s Eastern Beach on January 19.<\/p>\n
A coroner’s report found the 19-year-old was bitten by dingoes before she died, but drowning was the most likely cause of death.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A pack of dingoes walks on the beach north of Eurong in January 2019. (Supplied: Andrew Richter)<\/p>\n
Environment Minister Andrew Powell said six out of a pack of approximately 10 dingoes had already been euthanased, with more to be put down in the coming days.<\/p>\n
He said rangers had received advice from the Queensland coroner that dingoes had played a role in Ms James’s death.<\/p>\n
Since her body was found, at least one of the dingoes had been observed showing aggressive behaviour towards a camper on K’gari, Mr Powell said.<\/p>\n
“This is a tough decision, but I believe it is a decision the department has made in the interests of public safety,” he said.<\/p>\n
“And I want to reassure all stakeholders, particularly our tourism operators on K’gari-Fraser Island, that the island is open, that we do encourage people to continue to visit this spectacular wonderland.”<\/p>\n
Mr Powell said there were no immediate plans to cull any further dingoes, but the dingo management strategy for K’gari would be reviewed following the latest incident.<\/p>\n
A Department of Environment spokesperson said rangers had “closely monitored” the pack of dingoes since Ms James’s death.<\/p>\n
“Following the initial autopsy findings, this pack’s involvement in the incident, and observations since, this pack has been deemed an unacceptable public safety risk,” the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
“Public safety is our top priority, and this decision is informed and in the public interest.”<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/9d0c0d30831595ab7d0c722bd926a6d8.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Andrew Powell says the decision was the right call and in the public interest. (ABC News: Mark Leonardi)<\/p>\n
Traditional owners not consulted<\/p>\n
K’gari traditional owner group the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation said it was not consulted about the dingo cull.<\/p>\n
Director Christine Royan said she was informed shortly before the public announcement was made on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769320457_71_6daa9684eceb59774814769a2e29bf3c.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Christine Royan says traditional owners were not consulted about the decision to euthanase the dingoes. (ABC Wide Bay: Nikki Sorbello)<\/p>\n
“We’ve got a process in place, we didn’t even get consulted,” she said.<\/p>\n
Ms Royan said she was considering bringing legal action against the government.<\/p>\n
“I’m calling on the premier to actually look at the mismanagement of K’gari by Queensland Parks and Wildlife,” she said.<\/p>\n
“This is the beginning of the process, and if it means we have to go and get petitions and we have to bring in the Conservation Act [by which the dingoes] are supposed to be protected \u2014 they didn’t have a chance.”<\/p>\n
Mr Powell said he supported his department’s decision to go ahead with the cull without consulting traditional owners.<\/p>\n
“I”m backing my experts on the ground, the rangers that are there each and every day,” he said.<\/p>\n
“They’ve come to this decision on the advice from the coroner, on the observations of the pack involved and clearly in the interest of public safety.”<\/p>\n
Mr Powell said any threat of legal action was a matter for the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation.<\/p>\n