South Australian farmers fear wild dog surge amid proposed Dingo protection

This anxiety stems from a proposal submitted to the federal government by conservation groups – Big Desert Dingo Research, Australian Dingo Foundation, and the Dingo Conservancy – to list the Wilkerr dingo population as critically endangered. These organizations cite the potential ecological impact of losing this apex predator.

Mr. Thomas already struggles with wild dogs migrating from the nearby Ngarkat National Park, a problem exacerbated by Victoria’s 2024 declaration of dingos as a protected population within the state. He has been forced to remove sheep from 1,214 hectares of grazing land to prevent attacks and ensure adequate feed.

“There’s enough stress in the farming game at the moment without having to put down injured stock,” Mr. Thomas stated. “We have to worry every morning and go around, ‘Am I going to find an animal that’s been attacked or aren’t I?’”

The Wilkerr dingo population resides in three Victorian national parks and the Ngarkat Conservation Park in South Australia, holding cultural significance for the Wotjobaluk First Nations people. Wildlife ecologist Euan Ritchie, who has studied the dingoes through methods like camera tracking and scat analysis, attributes their decline to habitat loss and poisoning.

Professor Ritchie acknowledged the need for scrutiny of the scientific basis for the proposed protection, adding that non-lethal livestock protection methods, such as fencing and guardian animals, could be explored.

In 2024, Victoria implemented restrictions on controlling dingos on private land, requiring permits for shooting, trapping, or poisoning. A similar federal ruling would prevent Victoria and South Australia from reversing these restrictions.

Brad Page, a biosecurity officer with the South Australian primary industries department, expressed concerns that protecting the Wilkerr population could lead to a surge in wild dog numbers, potentially jeopardizing the state’s $1.7 billion sheep industry. He also questioned the validity of the genetic research supporting the protection proposal.

The department recently held meetings in Pinnaroo and Shaugh to discuss wild dog management and the threat they pose to livestock. A spokesperson for the federal environment department confirmed that a public consultation period of at least 30 business days will be part of a broader assessment to determine if the Wilkerr dingoes are at risk of extinction.