A woman has been fined for feeding a dingo on K’gari, after patrolling rangers witnessed the incident by the water’s edge.
It was her second dingo offence on the island: she was also fined for leaving food that was accessible at a campsite two years ago.
Compliance manager Mike Devery said rangers were driving along the beach to provide Be dingo-safe! education to visitors when they saw the woman’s latest offence, which was caught on dashcam.
“The incident occurred on 24th November, when the woman was fishing on the beach at Waddy Point on K’gari and a juvenile dingo was loitering nearby,” he said.
“The woman threw a small fish that had been caught to the dingo, which carried it a short distance up the beach before eating it.
“After being questioned by the ranger, the 26-year-old woman admitted that she fed the dingo, which is extremely disappointing.
“The woman received a $2580 penalty infringement notice, which is the maximum on-the-spot penalty for deliberately feeding a dingo.
“When the rangers clarified the woman’s details, our records showed it was her second fine for dingo offences on K’gari.
“In April 2022, the woman was fined $413 for food availability in her camp site at the Wongai camping area.
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“It is frustrating to have a repeat offender on the island who doesn’t care about the safety of people or dingoes.
“Hopefully she has learned an expensive lesson this time, and we hope the dingo doesn’t suffer any adverse effects after being fed.
“People who feed dingoes can expect to be fined, as rangers can be anywhere at any time to witness offences.
“We routinely receive videos, photos and information about dingo offences from tourist operators, police and residents and visitors.
“We are asking people to report all offences as soon as possible, and I remind people that the maximum court-impost penalty for feeding dingoes is $26,614.”
The Department of Environment, Science and Innovation issued a media release stating that deeding dingoes once was enough to teach them to associate humans with food, which puts people and dingoes at risk.
They stated that habituated dingoes can approach unsuspecting people for food and become aggressive if they don’t receive it, and dingoes are vulnerable to vehicle strike if they approach cars for food.
It is offence under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020 to feed a native animal in the wild that is dangerous, venomous or capable of injuring a person.
People are encouraged to be dingo-safe and report any concerning dingo encounters by calling 07 4127 9150 or emailing dingo.ranger@des.qld.gov.au
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