Dingo Politics...

The use of dingoes as apex predators and biodiversity regulators in the Australian landscape has always generated a significant amount of negative discussion. This concept has been extensively researched however there has yet to be any movement from the Australian Commonwealth Government on reduced culling of dingoes or a response to the practice of selectively introducing dingoes into the productive southern eastern grazing regions of Australia. This issue is multifaceted, with implementation and outcomes largely influenced by political agendas. Financial considerations and pressure from lobby groups that coerce policy makers into non-scientifically supported proposals, produce variable and poor environmental outcomes. Public perceptions that the dingo is a menace, killer, and an environmental pest are often misguided, irrational or unjustified, and have consequently obstructed the government from making sound environmental decisions. Currently, Australia’s native mammal and marsupial populations are on a downwards spiral. This is mainly due to introduced predators such as the cat and European red fox. It is well known that dingoes, as apex predators, act as trophic and biodiversity regulators and have the potential to subdue feral predators such as those described above. Dingoes demonstrate the ‘landscape of fear’ phenomenon towards feral cats and foxes, meaning that they avoid areas in which dingoes frequent due to fear. This in turn allows smaller native mammals and marsupials to benefit from less predation effort. The exclusion of dingoes from the southern half of the continent due to the dingo barrier fence, has led to great changes in ecosystem and biodiversity functions. Research indicates that the re-introduction of dingoes into the southern half of Australia will limit the presence of feral cats, foxes and rabbits and in turn have a positive trophic cascade effect on the ecosystem. Dingoes are currently listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Redlist list. The IUCN attempts to bring their concerns of threatened biodiversity to the attention of policy makers. This advice and high level of concern has somewhat been ignored by the Australian Government as there has been no move to protect the species and culling still exists in all states. There have only been two recorded fatalities from dingoes in history; Azaria Chamberlain and the death of a child at Fraser Island. In response to the Fraser Island attack, the Queensland Government immediately introduced a dingo culling program at Fraser Island, even though there hadn’t been a fatal attack for more than 20 years. This reflects the opinion of many that dingo culling is an emotional response with little if any scientific backing. The attachment of emotion to environmental decision makers is of great concern for many Australians. Ideally, decisions should be based on merit, with all issues or concerns given consideration and a balanced decision formulated that applies less weight to emotion and more to scientific reasoning. In the case of the dingo, their environmental benefits should be acknowledged, explored and implemented if necessary. In addition to this, attempts to save or protect native species should always be placed at a higher priority than agricultural and economic interests. In order for Australian environments and ecosystems to flourish in the future, legislation must be brought under one federal system and reflect environmental needs without the input of emotions, public perceptions, finances and governmental popularity. ~Gary Taylor Photography~