Campgrounds on K’gari/Fraser Island closed until further notice after dingoes attacked two women at Queensland tourist hotspot
- Dingoes involved in series of attacks on visitors
- Parts of the island were closed off on Friday.
Several campgrounds on K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, have been closed until further notice due to “threatening” dingo behavior.
The Queensland Department of Environment and Science issued an alert on Friday afternoon announcing the immediate closure of zones three, four and five.
Those with reservations will be offered an exchange, refund or credit.
“This closure is necessary to reduce negative interactions with dingoes and allow for continued monitoring and management of dingoes,” the alert read.
Gated campgrounds are located on the eastern shore of K’gari between The Pinnacles and Poyungan Rocks.
Other camping areas in zones one, two and six, and the fenced-in areas at Eli, One Tree, Wongai and Cornwells will remain open.
Signs posted at K’gari warn visitors to keep children within arm’s reach and never attempt to feed or touch the dingoes.
The announcement comes a day after rangers expressed dismay at a video of a man offering a dingo a bottle of water near Waddy Point Beach.
“After the recent incidents at K’gari, it is disappointing that someone would deliberately choose to interact with a wongari (dingo),” said Senior Ranger Linda Behrendorff.
“People need to understand that only interaction like this can habituate the wongari, and ignoring this means ignoring the consequences for human and wongari safety.
“It’s people’s bad behavior that causes a lot of the negative interactions on the island.”
Authorities have warned visitors and residents of K’gari to be on the lookout for dingoes after several attacks in recent months.
Also Thursday, two women were attacked in separate incidents by the same pair of dingoes.
The first occurred around 11:45 a.m. when two dingoes approached a group of seven adults in Eli Creek and bit a female on the thigh.
A short time later, another woman was bitten on the thigh after falling.
All interactions with dingoes must be reported to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, with fines on the spot for anyone caught feeding or disturbing the dingoes.
