K'gari dingos
Submitted: Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 11:15
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Allan B (Sunshine Coast)
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Just a heads-up that K'gari (Fraser Island) dingos continue to be a problem with another bite incident this week.
Clip from the latest local news story:
“Visitors and residents are also reminded to remain vigilant of their surroundings at all times, keep children within arm’s length, never walk alone and carry a stick at all times.
All negative
dingo encounters should immediately be reported to a QPWS
ranger by calling 07 4127 9150 or emailing
dingo.
ranger@des.qld.gov.au."
If you are visiting the Island then In particular be very cautious with your children.
Reply By: ExplorOz - David & Michelle - Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 20:06
Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 20:06
We have just been camping in the beautiful
Bunya Mountains in Qld and they have black and tan dingos that comes right up to your
camp in the National Park. I tried to shoo one away and he honestly growled at me and sat down. The lady camped besides us was having a chat with us at the time and she wasn't too impressed and rang the
ranger. Later the next day I was chatting to the locals and got the dingos names and found out HE had a pup nearby. Parks had done a big cull over COVID and Danny the
dingo was the only breeding family left. He was gorgeous but they are far too tame and expecting a steak for dinner which makes them a little aggitated when they don't get their way. I would not have been so blaise had I had
young kids with me. I little chased him away and he kept coming back and was a daily visitor. I agree, that closing camping in areas likes K'gari is the best solution - that is a very unique location and those dingoes in particular are unique. Time will tell.
BTW - we are literally opposite K'gari now but will not be visiting, having had a wonderful visit way back 27 years ago. It wouldn't be the same and don't need to spoil our memories. This area of Qld is having a major heatwave just now so going south in a hurry soon.
MM
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 21:58
Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 21:58
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Hi Michelle,
You would be wise to retain your memory from 27 years ago. It has changed a great deal since then. We have found that wonderful experiences grow even better in the mind whilst often becoming worse in reality. K'gari is certainly one such.
It is not always the case though.... we revisit several
places that are special to us but they are not popular tourist
places which get over-loved.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Jim S1 - Saturday, Nov 09, 2024 at 06:54
Saturday, Nov 09, 2024 at 06:54
Been to the Bunyas a few times. Lovely cool mountain air and some great walks. Kookaburras are another pest , stealing sausages , steak etc , yet again caused by people who feed them.
Cheers
Jim
| "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." A fisherman.
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Follow Up By: Batt's - Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 18:33
Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 at 18:33
We were there for a week in 1996 camping at Dunduburra, never seen them during the day but you could hear them trotting around the
camp at night.
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Nov 17, 2024 at 09:52
Sunday, Nov 17, 2024 at 09:52
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Batt's, 1996 is nearly 30 years ago. Things have changed a lot since then.
However, in 1984 we were concerned that a
dingo pair were standing at
our camp's edge eying off our 4 year old. And we did lose one of his leather sandals overnight…. found chewed next morning.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Batt's - Monday, Nov 18, 2024 at 13:18
Monday, Nov 18, 2024 at 13:18
It's one of those things I've been meaning to go back but never have always going to new
places. We went outside of school holidays and it was what I would call busy it would be hectic these days.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - peter g28 - Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 20:16
Friday, Nov 08, 2024 at 20:16
There was mentioned in the press about 5 odd years ago that National Parks QLD were contemplating limiting the amount of visitors to K'gari due to the visitors / camper numbers starting becoming a problem.
I have visited the island on several occasions since the 1990's and on the last visit 2010, it was getting uncomefortably crowded in some campsites, some 4wders were becoming a issue on tracks and disregarding the oneway rules, speeding along the main beach, some kids running around the main beach unsupervised. I saw one such idiot try to race drag a plane whilst it was taking off..that was enough for me...I was out...haven't been back since.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Cuppa - Saturday, Nov 09, 2024 at 10:44
Saturday, Nov 09, 2024 at 10:44
Have never been to K'gari.
Over the past few years we have had quite a few close encounters with dingos, but not in
places where they have become accustomed to humans...... apart from the one who stole a shoe left outside whilst camping in Karijini.
We have generally found them to be inquisitive, self assured & often playful. Our accomodation in the Iron Range rainforest looked out onto an
embankment with the treeline immediately behind it. On numerous occasions a
dingo would wander past as we lay in bed looking out. It could hear our movements but could only see it's own reflection in the french doors, & delighted us by playing with it's reflection. At
Moreton Telegraph Station we would often see lone dingos wandering by in the open, but had a visit, underneath the raised house, from a family of
young pups exploring 'their' territory one night, until a parent, further away inside the treeline howled to alert them to us turning on the lights. Many more encounters, some just feet away. Never felt threatened, but always just felt privileged without need to do anything other than watch on.
AnswerID:
646793
Reply By: Member - McLaren3030 - Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 07:15
Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 07:15
I have camped on K’Gari Fraser Island twice, first time back in the mid 1990’s. Very different back then, you could still
camp at
Lake McKenzie back then which we did. The second time was in 2012. More people, the access track from
Rainbow Beach to
Inskip Point was in worse condition. The “go around” tracks where the rocks come down to the waters edge along the 75 Mile Beach were in much worse condition. It was not as enjoyable as it was back in the mid 1990’s.
I do not think closing off the Island completely is the answer, but I do think limiting access would be a good idea. I also think better education for those wanting to access the island might be worth trying. Perhaps an online
test with suitable questions regarding dingoes and other K’gari specific questions be initiated when applying for your permit.
Macca.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 09:30
Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 09:30
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Hi Macca,
The tracks are probably little worse in the last 10 years but the numbers and behaviour of visitors is much worse.
And I would recommend not camping in the zones above the high water line along the beaches. The E. coli levels must be astronomic there with everyone crapping in the sand.
I doubt that a permit "test" of any kind would be helpful. There is plenty of prominent
information about dingos and anyone can provide the correct answers yet still behave like a numpty.
I don't like 'behaviour legislation' but in K'gari's case it seems necessary…… limit the numbers and require all visitors to
camp in formal fenced campgrounds. If they did that I may even return to the island.
The cops enforce
the beach speed limit as best they can but I have heard them called-out on the UHF.
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Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 07:09
Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 07:09
Yes Allan,
You are probably correct with regards to a “
test” for camping permits. I like your idea of only permitting camping in marked fenced areas. Of course this would entail the Queensland Parks Service to actually create these area, and restrict camping to being completely self contained, including all
toilet waste, that people need to take with them when they leave the island.
Macca.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 07:54
Monday, Nov 11, 2024 at 07:54
Dale’s
Campground at Karijini WA would be a good model to follow, if it would work in an island setting.
Well spaced campsites, a generator section & the cleanest long drops I’ve ever had the privilege to use.
The overflow
camp is small, crowded with only one
toilet. Makes most folk appreciate the spread of Dales.
Bob
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Batt's - Monday, Nov 18, 2024 at 13:28
Monday, Nov 18, 2024 at 13:28
The W.A government might not be as money hungry as the east coast where you can turn 2 camping sites into 3 just cram them in and collect their money.
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Reply By: Rangiephil - Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 14:30
Sunday, Nov 10, 2024 at 14:30
I started camping on Fraser in 1978 . Back then the
Brumbies were more of a danger than the dingoes.
When those Stallions were fighting over their harems, they would run through your tent ropes biting each other on the bum.
I used to
camp on the south bank of Ely Creek where the
toilets are now, and taught the kids to swim by chucking em in the creek. They loved it.
My observation is that dingoes react to mistreatment or stupidity. I have seen people kick sand in their faces for amusement. One incident in I think the 90s. There was a bitch with 4 pups on the south end near the ferry. There were English tourist kids chasing around the pups. The next day headlines .
Dingo bites child!
Those were the days. I will not go back now. I see enough idiots if I go up the coloured sands to
Rainbow and see bogans in Hiluxes go through the rocks with surf over the cab.
AnswerID:
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