24-05-2025
Rangers search for a stabbed K'gari (Fraser Island) dingo that attacked child
Wildlife rangers say a dingo that was stabbed with a pocketknife to free a child from its jaws on K'gari (Fraser Island) is not expected to survive as they continue to search for the wounded animal.
Community leaders are calling the attack an "unfortunate" reminder to keep children within arm's reach when visiting the World Heritage-listed island.
Authorities said the 9-year-old boy was at a camp area near Yidney Rocks, on the central-east coast of K'gari, when he was bitten on the arm on Friday.
Multiple witnesses reported to rangers that a bystander sprung to his aid, attempting to pull the dingo off the child.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service ranger Mark Cody said the man reportedly produced a pocketknife and stabbed the dingo in the neck to halt the attack on the child.
"Whilst [rangers] were trying to manage the people on the beach, and while other staff were bringing the appropriate medication to provide humane relief to the animal, the animal has moved further into the bush."
Mr Cody said the dingo's chance of survival, and the likelihood that rangers will recover the animal from K'gari's dense bushland, were slim.
"Rangers are still attempting to try and locate that animal. They will continue to do that through the weekend," Mr Cody said.
"I can't say for sure we will find the animal because the behaviour is that it would probably try and find somewhere which is very reclusive such as a hollow log or under a tree."
The dingo is a protected species on K'gari, but Mr Cody said the man will not be charged over his actions to save the child.
The boy was transported to Hervey Bay with minor injuries.
Traditional Owners are reminding parents to keep their children close and never travel alone when on K'gari.
Butchulla leader Darren Blake has worked as a dingo ranger on the island and said these kinds of incidents can be prevented.
"It's not good news on both ends. My heart goes out to the little boy, he didn't need to experience that," Mr Blake said.
"The wongari [dingo] has paid the ultimate price.
"Being a parent and going over there you can't relax, you can never relax.
Mr Blake urged visitors to use a stick to shoo away dingoes lingering around campsites.
"The dingoes are not starving, but they are hunters and scavengers … so they will take an opportunity as soon as they have a chance," he said.
"Everyone needs to do the right thing and deter the animal. Don't let it hang around you."
Deputy Mayor of the Fraser Coast Regional Council, Sara Faraj, said campers and day-trippers should approach rangers if they are concerned about dingoes on the island.
"It's really important the people going onto the island are educated as best as possible to understand the risk of going onto the island," she said.
The Queensland government said rangers have increased patrols around the area where the attacked occurred and engaged with tourists about dingo safety.
