K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), is the largest sand island in the world and one of five World Heritage sites located in Queensland.

Its pristine beaches stretch over 250 kilometres, and its coastal dunes and lakes form the longest and most complete age sequence of their kind. Then there’s the wildlife. K’gari is home to over 325 bird species, migrating humpback whales, as well as a distinct species of tortoise inhabiting the Island's freshwater lakes.

But there’s one animal that eager beachgoers, birdwatchers, and families alike will most likely encounter – Wongari, Australia's purest dingo population and K’gari’s apex predator (PDF, 8.6MB) .

Before European settlers arrived on K'gari, the traditional owners, the Butchulla people, knew wild dingoes as wongari.

Understanding the dingo’s role in K'gari's unique ecosystem and treating them with respect isn't just a responsibility when visiting; it's a commitment to preserving the Island’s natural wonder.

Part of this responsibility is knowing about how dingoes act throughout the year, including how they hunt and what they eat. This knowledge will help keep you and your family safe as you enjoy the beauty of K'gari.

What do dingoes eat?

K’gari provides a varied diet for dingoes. They eat fish, crabs, reptiles, insects, echidnas, bush rats, grey kangaroos, swamp wallabies, bandicoots. They also feed on dead marine life or sea birds that have washed up on the beach, as well as native berries like midyim and blue flax flower, which flourish year-round.

As apex predators, dingoes or wongari rely on their hunting prowess to survive and thrive in the wild. They are a necessary component of K’gari’s natural ecosystems and feeding them interrupts a natural balance. Feeding dingoes or leaving food where they can get it makes them less fearful of humans and causes them to lose their ‘wildness’. Instead, they become dependent on human-provided food, scavenging around homes, camp sites, or dumps.

Dingoes are pack animals. Within these packs, it is common for certain dingoes to be denied food by the dominant alphas, regardless of how much there is. These are established pack dynamics, and consequently the younger or less dominant pack members may appear lean for a while. While some locate their own food sources and gain weight, others, following natural order, and may not survive.

Feeding dingoes while they are in this lean state negatively impacts their hunting skills and can result in their pack hierarchy to break down, resulting in some dingoes to become loners. In this state they can become aggressive towards humans during lean periods.

Seasonal behaviours of dingoes

Dingoes natural behaviour fluctuates throughout the year. In autumn and summer, they become more aggressive, competing for pack dominance and food. Here is a look into their behaviour during each season:

Summer (December-February)

Dingo pups quickly grasp pack rules as they play together. Activities like gentle growling, howling, dominance testing, roll-overs, and push-overs serve as important life lessons for these young members. The stronger siblings often protect their food and establish their status within the pack. What may seem like a game to us is, in fact, a form of communication.

It's crucial not to interact with dingoes, as we don't comprehend their language and might unintentionally cause problems by sending the wrong signals.

Autumn (March-May)

During mating, dominance is tested, territories are protected, and intruders from other packs are expelled. Females locate dens, give birth to, and hide their pups. Dingoes have only one litter per year, making this their sole opportunity to raise another generation.

Winter (June-August)

The female dingoes must search for food to feed both herself and her pups. While the entire pack assists, you may observe an alpha male taking on the role of caring for the pups, while the others are out hunting. Naturally, they are protective of the pups and could become aggressive. It's crucial never to intervene between an adult dingo and their young.

Spring (September-November)

Dingo pups are maturing and beginning to explore beyond their dens. They remain near their parents, but occasionally, are left in a secure location while the adults go hunting for food. It's important to note that they haven't been abandoned; they're simply too young to keep pace with the pack. This stage is a vulnerable one for them, as they must acquire the skills to become self-reliant.

How to be Dingo-Safe! On K’gari