Two-year old boy bitten by wongari on K'gari

Issued: 14 Jun 2024

Rangers on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) are attempting to identify an untagged female dingo (wongari) that bit a two-year-old boy on the thigh on 13 June 2024.

The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) was advised around 2:45pm on 13 June 2024 about the incident, which occurred in the carpark at Lake McKenzie.

A family was about to leave Lake McKenzie when the father saw the dingo near the right-hand side of their car.

He told his family to get into the left-hand side of the car, and the dingo walked to the other side of the road before running to the front of the car.

The dingo bit the boy on his right thigh before being chased away by the father. The incident left the boy with two puncture wounds to his thigh that have been treated.

The family drove to Eurong to report the incident to rangers before proceeding to Kingfisher Resort for further treatment.

Rangers will continue patrols in the Lake McKenzie (Boorangoora) area and provide Be dingo-safe! messaging to people on the island.

Visitors and residents on K’gari are reminded to remain vigilant at all times by keeping children at arm’s length, never walking alone and carrying a stick at all times.

Negative dingo encounters should immediately be reported to a QPWS ranger by calling 07 4127 9150 or emailing dingo.ranger@des.qld.gov.au

QPWS carry out constant education and compliance activities on K’gari. Rangers maintain fences at multiple camping areas, conduct daily patrols of the island and respond to human-dingo interactions on a case-case basis.

The Queensland Government is investing an additional $2 million in funding this financial year and an additional $3 million annually ongoing to expand our proactive Be dingo-safe! messaging and support 13 new positions dedicated to dingo conservation and management.

The Fraser Island Dingo Conservation and Risk Management Strategy was reviewed in 2020 by the Queensland Chief Scientist, with the assistance of an expert panel, and was found to be comprehensive and effective.

Visitors to K’gari are reminded to ‘Be dingo-safe!’ at all times:

• Always stay close (within arm’s reach) of children and young teenagers
• Always walk in groups and carry a stick.
• Camp in fenced areas where possible
• Do not run. Running or jogging can trigger a negative dingo interaction
• Never feed dingoes
• Lock up food stores and iceboxes (even on a boat)
• Never store food or food containers in tents, and
• Secure all rubbish, fish and bait.

View more information on K’gari dingoes.