Several K’gari beachfront camping areas will be closed after a spate of attacks by dingoes.
The Department of Environment and Science will shut zones three (Poyungan and Winnam), four (Guluri and Eli) and five (Maheno and Wahba) from Thursday until further notice.
The campsites will remain closed at least until the end of the September school holidays.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers also urged visitors to avoid preparing or consuming food and sun-baking at Eli Creek and lakeshores areas.
There have been a number of attacks and high-risk interactions between visitors and dingoes on the island.
Two women were bitten in seperate attacks on Thursday, a jogger was attacked and a young boy was bitten and scratched in seperate attacks last month, another young boy and a woman were bitten on different occasions in June, while a young girl was attacked in April.
A media release from DES said rangers were monitoring the dingoes (wongari) and they will conduct additional patrols and briefings to educate visitors on dingo safety and awareness.
It’s expected the Dingo Conservation and Risk Management Strategy will reduce the potential for further negative interactions, and help ensure the long-term conservation of the wongari population on K’gari.
Visitors, tour operators and residents were advised to be dingo-safe on K’gari. They have been told: never feed or touch dingoes; always stay within arm’s reach of children, even small teenagers; walk in groups and carry a stick; do not run. Running or jogging can trigger a negative dingo interaction; camp in fenced areas when possible; lock up food in stores and iceboxes (even on a boat); never store food or food containers in tents; secure all rubbish, fish and bait.
Alternative camping areas include beachfront camping zones one (Govi and Wongai), two (One Tree, Cornwells, Gabala) and six (Eugarie, Yurru and Guruman), and in fenced camping areas at Eli, One Tree, Wongai and Cornwells on the eastern side of the island.
All wongari interactions should be reported to QPWS immediately on 4127 9150 or by emailing dingo.ranger@des.qld.gov.au.
Take note of the location, wongari ear tag colour, number and which ear.For further information about wongari on K’gari, visit about K’gari (Fraser Island) dingoes.
Latest updates on the camping area closure will be available at K’gari (Fraser Island).
A full list of fenced camping areas can be found at camping areas with wongari (dingo) deterrent fences.
