Rangers will “humanely euthanise” wild dingoes after a backpacker’s body was found to have evidence of “pre-mortem” bites.
A pack of “aggressive” dingoes will be put down after being deemed an unacceptable public safety risk following the death of a Canadian backpacker.
Piper James, 19, was working on K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, when she went for an early morning swim on January 19.
Her body was discovered surrounded by dingoes near a popular tourist site, the wreck of the SS Maheno, a short time later.
Preliminary autopsy results found drowning was the most likely cause of death but also uncovered evidence of “pre-mortem” dingo bites, raising the possibility that Ms James attempted to escape the pack by fleeing into the surf.
Rangers have been closely monitoring the pack of dingoes and observed some “aggressive behaviour”.
“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,” a Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation spokesperson said.
“Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers are currently implementing actions accordingly.
“There is no public safety risk during this process. Dingoes involved in Monday’s incident will be humanely euthanised.”
Rangers increased patrols across the island following the tragedy, which came just weeks after a warning about aggressive dingo behaviour near where Ms James was found.
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The Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation and environmental groups have been calling for a cap on tourists, due to mounting safety concerns and damage to the World Heritage site’s fragile environment.
But Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has ruled out restrictions on visitor numbers.
Ms James had been living and working at a backpackers on K’gari, the world’s largest sand island, with a friend from Canada for about six weeks.
Her family has shared a GoFundMe page to raise money to bring their daughter home. It had raised almost $20,000 thus far.
The coroner is awaiting pathology results to further assist in determining the cause of death, a process expected to take several weeks.
Ms James’ father Todd told the Canadian Press that he hoped his daughter had succumbed to the surf, considering the alternative.
He and his wife Angela, Piper’s mother, have also been invited to a smoking ceremony by the Butchulla people, K’gari’s traditional custodians, which he said they hoped to attend.
