‘It was worth it’: The truth behind Australia’s rising dingo attacks

The pristine sands of K'gari hide a growing danger—one fuelled not by nature, but by human recklessness.

Tourists, eager for the perfect social media shot, are getting dangerously close to the island’s wild dingoes, sparking a rise in attacks that have left locals and rangers alarmed.

Authorities now fear that the next encounter could turn deadly—for both humans and these iconic animals.

K'gari’s breathtaking beauty continues to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, but 2024 has seen a troubling surge in serious incidents between tourists and the island’s native dingoes.

Rangers have already responded to 16 serious cases this year, nine involving children, including a four-year-old girl who was flown to hospital in August after being bitten on the chest while her family was fishing.

It’s not just the number of attacks that’s shocking, but the cause behind them—reckless tourist behaviour.

Eyewitnesses have captured visitors driving 4WDs and tour buses dangerously close to dingo pups, some getting within two metres to take photos and videos for social media.

The reckless scenes have been most distressing during pupping season, when dingo families are at their most vulnerable.

A local business owner described vehicles crowding the pups, stopping them from playing as they cowered in fear each time cars approached.

'It was terrible, they couldn't do their puppy play, as each time they stopped playing as the cars drove close and scared them,' the witness said. 'This is really dangerous for them too; they could walk under and get burnt or get run over as you drive off.'

Some visitors are even deliberately feeding the dingoes, despite knowing the dangers.

One ranger recalled booking a tourist who responded, ‘It was worth it’—a remark that epitomises the careless attitude threatening the island’s fragile ecosystem.

Recognising the crisis, the Queensland Government has announced $2 million in additional funding this financial year and $3 million annually ongoing to boost conservation efforts.

The funds will expand proactive safety messaging and support 13 new roles focused on dingo management and protection.

Fines for disturbing or feeding dingoes are steep—on-the-spot penalties of $2,670 and court fines up to $27,538.

In 2024 alone, more than 20 fines have been issued, including at least nine for deliberate feeding or interaction, amid over 130 high-risk encounters between humans and dingoes.

With around 500,000 tourists visiting annually and roughly 180 dingoes on the island, the pressure on the ecosystem is immense.

Conservation advocate Cheryl Bryant said that during peak seasons, 'the island, the east coast, gets saturated with tourists. It's impossible for the dingoes living in that area to avoid people.'

Senior ranger Linda Behrendorff has noticed worsening behaviour since the pandemic, particularly from inexperienced 4WD owners who often drink heavily and ignore safety rules.

In January 2024, a tagged dingo had to be euthanised after several attacks on children and a man—an outcome that wiped out one per cent of the entire island’s dingo population.

The loss of each animal represents a significant blow to the gene pool, further threatening the long-term survival of this protected species.

Adding to the heartbreak, reports have surfaced of dingoes being intentionally harmed—one found decapitated, another killed by a vehicle and left in a pool of blood.

Experts say these incidents highlight a grim pattern: when dingoes are fed or exposed to human food waste, they lose their natural wariness and begin to see people as competition rather than danger.

Rangers now urge visitors to travel in groups, remain alert, and carry deterrents such as ‘dingo sticks’ to reduce risk—especially for families with young children.

Authorities stress that the dingoes of K'gari are a national treasure, and that human habituation poses the greatest threat to their survival.

As one conservation group put it, 'You're much more likely to be in a car accident, eaten by a shark, [or] to drown than be attacked by a dingo'—but only if visitors follow the rules that keep both species safe.

For travellers planning to visit this World Heritage site, remember that K'gari is their home first and your holiday second.

Your behaviour could determine whether these magnificent animals thrive—or vanish forever.

If this story about reckless tourist behaviour on K'gari has you wondering just how widespread the problem is, you’re not alone.

Another popular island destination is facing the same frustration, as locals grow increasingly alarmed by visitors who ignore safety warnings and put both themselves and wildlife in danger.

It’s a stark reminder that respect for nature isn’t optional—it’s essential to preserving the places we love to explore.

Read more: Aussie island locals slam tourists for ignoring safety rules at popular site: ‘They do whatever they like’

Have you ever witnessed tourists acting recklessly around wildlife? What do you think should be done to better protect Australia’s native animals?