Let's get serious about Dingo preservation.

Let's get serious about Dingo preservation. These beautiful dingo pups were pulled out of their den, "a filthy trick used by doggers" to lure their unsuspecting parents to a sure death. Dingoes are the only Australian Wildlife not protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act. They have many differences to wild dogs. Genetically, environmentally, socially, reproductively and behaviourally. If we left dingoes and their hybrids alone and cease lethal control, nature would take its course and they would slowly regain their genetic integrity and transform back to a pure state within a few years. Stable dingo packs, if left alone, will help reduce hybridisation with domestic dogs, as it is dingoes segregated from a pack that are most likely to breed with dogs. It's unlikely that a dog would be able to penetrate a stable dingo family pack.

With the increase in the number of feral and wild-living domestic dogs, pure dingoes are coming under increasing threat from hybridisation.

Dingoes in Australia have been shaped by millennia of natural selection - and it is these products of natural selection that should be conserved wherever possible.

The term wild dog is used to describe domestic dogs, dingoes and hybrids. However it's important to consider the distinctions. Dingoes are easily distinguished from domestic dogs in terms of behaviour and phenotype. They live in highly structured packs led by a breeding pair; exhibit mutual defence of territories; have an annual breeding season; paternal males and alloparental care of young; perform pack hunting in curtain areas; and howl more than bark.

Physically they have larger carnassial teeth, longer canines, uniform coat colours, longer snout, flexible joints and lack hind dew clews.