Dingo pack leader killed after attacking jogger on a popular Australian tourist island
- A woman was attacked by the Australian native dogs on Monday as she jogged along a beach at Queensland state’s K’gari island
- It was the second dingo on the island in recent weeks to be killed for biting and threatening behaviour, which authorities blame on tourists feeding them
Wildlife authorities have killed the leader of a pack of dingoes that mauled a jogger on a popular Australian tourist island in a ferocious attack that a rescuer said could have been fatal.
Sarah Peet, 23, was attacked by three or four Australian native dogs on Monday as she jogged along a beach at Queensland state’s K’gari, the world’s largest sand island formerly known as Fraser Island.
The Brisbane resident was flown by helicopter to a mainland hospital in a stable condition. The health department refused to provide an update on her condition on Thursday, citing patient confidentiality.
Wildlife rangers captured and humanely euthanised the leader of the pack on Wednesday, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service said.
“Euthanising a high-risk dingo is always a last resort and the tough decision by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service was supported by the island’s traditional owners, the Butchulla people,” a service statement said.
We’ve seen two dingoes hanging off the side of her … could see fear in her face, that she wasn’t in a good way
The dingo was the second on the island in recent weeks to be killed for biting and threatening behaviour. Authorities blame dingoes’ increasing fearlessness on tourists who ignore rules by feeding them or encouraging them to approach to post social media images.
