Hybrid Wolves and Dingoes

The B.C. government's Vancouver Island wolf extermination program has allowed "monster" hybrids to take over the region, a team of scientists have said. From the 1920s until the 1970s, provincial officials tried to rid Vancouver Island of wolves so sport hunters would find it easier to hunt black-tailed deer, the wolves' principal prey.

So when a few hardy wolves swam across from the northern B.C. mainland in the early 1980s, some were unable to find mates. Instead, they mated with stray dogs. The result, according to researchers from the University of Sweden, the Smithsonian Institution and the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, was something never documented before in the wild, animals that were neither wolves nor dogs. Their research is published in the latest edition of the journal Conservation Genetics.

So-called wolf hybrids are bred purposely by some breeders as pets, though they are regarded by animal welfare groups as potentially dangerous. They had never been documented in the wild before.

This hybridisation is known in Australia too, between dingoes and stray dogs, usually dogs that have been lost by hunters. As some of these stray dogs are used for catching wild pigs, they are large and ferocious. Some bushwalkers have reported seeing wild dingo/dog hybrids with Great Dane heads and bodies. Clearly these are very dangerous animals. As well, the hybrids can breed twice a year, instead of only once year as dingoes.

Some of the last purebred dingoes in Australia are now believed to be on Fraser Island, where the Government is killng them off by starving them to death, and killing them if they think they may be a risk to tourists.

Harvey Bay Dingo Day a Huge Success.

The Dingo Day at Hervey Bay was attended by hundreds of people, all keen to support the cessation of kiling the Fraser Island Dingoes. While the Queensland Government bumbles along in its usual incompetent fashion, dingoes are being killed for no good reason. No documented evidence is gathered to show the dingo is dangerous, they just have to look sideways at a tourist to be killed by a "Ranger". They same imbeded stupidity is shown by the Queensland Government towards shark nets. 20 years of lobbying to get rid of the shark nets (that kill hundreds of whales, dugongs, and turtles, all endangered) the Governemt refuses to consider removing them...all to protect the tourist Industry.

Some photos of the dingo Day are below, and the local newspaper report as well.

Gathered together to show their concern for the dingoes of Fraser Island, member for Hervey Bay Ted Sorensen addressed the crowd and warned that the purest strain of dingo in Australia could become the next Tasmanian tiger if dingo management on the island didn't change. Dingo Day was held at Apex Park in Hervey Bay yesterday and several volunteers walked around educating the crowd while Mr Sorensen delivered his address. There was also singing, dancing and story-telling from the Butchulla community, relating traditional tales of Fraser Island and the dingoes. Ensuring the dingoes' future should be a priority but questioned the State Government's management policies, he said. “Every time a dingo looks at someone they are destroyed.”

Mr Sorensen said the dingoes were an important part of what brought people to Fraser Island. “Let's be proud of what we've got.” Malcolm Kilpatrick, who helped organised the event, also spoke yesterday. “Ten or more (dingoes) have been killed on the island - and that's 10 too many,” he said. Mr Kilpatrick said it was great to see so many people out in support of the dingoes. “We have to make people aware of the plight of the dingoes. “That is why we are having this awareness day.” Butchulla elder Marie Wilkinson also spoke, saying she would do everything she could to fight for the dingoes. * Fraser Coast Chronicle

Fraser Island Dingo Day

Save the Fraser Island Dingoes Committee are hosting a Dingo Day at Hervey Bay on the 20th September at Apex park, Pialba. from 10 am to 2 pm. Indigenous dancers, story telling, speakers, sausage sizzle, etc. Come along and learn about the Fraser Island dingo!

Fraser Island Dingoes Okay?

The Queensland government's strategy to manage Fraser Island's dingoes has been backed by an independent audit. The audit, by dingo expert Dr Laurie Corbett, has found the strategy of educating visitors, training rangers and erecting fencing in strategic locations, has reduced the risk posed to humans by dingoes on the popular holiday island. Environment Minister Kate Jones told state parliament on Tuesday there had been no incidents of dingo aggression within the fenced areas, and the audit had endorsed further training for rangers to educate visitors about dingo habits. Dr Corbett had also found evidence contrary to the popular opinion the island's dingoes were starving, Ms Jones said.

"His examination found there was an increase in the average size of the adult dingo on Fraser Island, from 16 kilograms to 18.3 kilograms," she said. "Most importantly Dr Corbett found that research to date has indicated that there is adequate natural prey for a sustainable dingo population on the island." Ms Jones said Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service would do further research to confirm this. The issue of dingoes on Fraser Island has split experts, with some saying the population is close to being wiped out.Ten dingoes have been destroyed this year, including one last month, after an attack on a four-year-old boy. *Sunshine Coast Daily

Ed Comment; No surprises here, Corbett designed the origonal Dingo Management Plan, now he produces an "independent report" saying everything is fine.....

Dingoes should be re-introduced?

Dingoes

In South Australia the dog fence has been keeping dingo movements in the State's north out for over 100 years. A Sydney academic, University of Sydney Researcher Mike Letniksays dingoes should be allowed through the fence to roam in National Parks to control foxes and feral cats that threaten native wildlife. However, State Liberal MP Graham Gunn says pastoralists have enough pressure on them as it is, without having to worry about dingoes killing their sheep. *ABC