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Dingoes are loved and loathed in equal measure but there’s no question that conservation of the species is vital—for their own sake and for the overall health of the Australian environment. By Dr Phil Tucak
Dingoes are culturally significant for many of Australia’s First Nations peoples and aside from people, dingoes are this continent’s largest land-based predator. They play an important ecological role affecting other predator and prey species and the health and condition of ecosystems.
Found across tropical, arid and southern mainland Australia, dingoes have been here for thousands of years, however as human activity increasingly impinges on the dingo’s range, conserving this remarkable species is vital—not only for their survival, but also the overall health of the Australian environment.
Why dingoes matter
Euan Ritchie has been researching the ecology, conservation and management of dingoes since 2008. As a Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Deakin University, Ritchie’s research focuses on the ecology and conservation of wildlife, species interactions, ecosystem management, invasive species, fire ecology and environmental policy.
“Dingoes are truly extraordinary and fascinating animals that open up larger and important conversations about conservation, colonisation, culture, and sustainable land management,” he says. “There is arguably no other species in Australia that evokes such a diverse range of views and emotions as does the dingo. Above all else, dingoes have a right to exist having lived in Australia for many thousands of years prior to European colonisation.
“Dingoes can help to keep kangaroo, wallaby, feral pig, and feral goat numbers in check, which flows on to benefit plant diversity and vegetation condition. Dingoes may also in some cases reduce numbers and activity of foxes and feral cats, thereby indirectly assisting native prey of these invasive predators to survive. Together, these effects help maintain biodiversity within ecosystems.”
A breed apart
Australia has seen ongoing debate about the identity of dingoes and their genetic ‘purity’, along with the management of the species.
“In many regions dingoes are referred to as wild dogs—by mistake or deliberately, and it has also been suggested that most dingoes are hybrids with domestic or feral dogs. But new genetic research suggests that most dingoes are in fact pure, and only a small fraction have some degree of domestic dog ancestry,” explains Ritchie.
“Dingoes have been heavily persecuted since European colonisation. They have been excluded from large areas or greatly reduced in number, through a combination of trapping, poisoning, shooting and exclusion fencing, including the infamous Dingo Barrier Fence, that stretches for more than 5000km.”
Andrew Weeks from the University of Melbourne led the new genetic research which utilised genomic testing to assess for introgression between closely related canid groups and dingoes.
Introgression refers to the transfer of genetic information from one species to another due to hybridisation between them. The research showed there was no evidence of introgression between dingoes and domestic dogs, and also highlighted that previous work on this issue has likely mischaracterised shared ancestral genetic variation as evidence for hybridisation.
Killing dingoes can lead to adverse impacts such as increased numbers or activity of other species, including feral goats, kangaroos, feral cats and foxes, and in turn have negative impacts on ecosystem health and biodiversity.
Professor Euan Ritchie, Deakin University
Researchers are concerned that dingo genetic diversity will continue to decline if lethal control measures continue to be used, with the risk that this could—perhaps ironically—prompt dingoes to mate with dogs to survive.
“The Dingo Discovery Sanctuary and Research Centre does an excellent job in educating the public about dingoes and why they’re so special and very different to dogs,” says Ritchie. “Their work helps to reduce misunderstanding which is vital for an informed public, conservation progress, and better management of dingoes.”
There are many important differences between dingoes and domestic dogs, he adds. “Perhaps most importantly, compared to domestic dogs, dingoes only breed once a year. Dingoes are also highly flexible and expert climbers, making them somewhat more ‘cat-like’ compared to domestic dogs. But dingoes are susceptible to all the same diseases and pathogens that dogs are.”
Change of heart
For veterinarians and others who might interact with dingoes, any opportunity to help change attitudes towards dingoes is important for their conservation.
“Education, scientific and social research, science communication, and storytelling are all key ingredients towards changing community attitudes towards dingoes and raising awareness of the species’ important ecological role,” says Ritchie.
“Listening and respect is vital, and First Nations’ views must be central to the conversation about dingoes given the long and significant cultural values of dingoes. We all need to listen to each other’s views, whether we agree or not. We also need to stop making assumptions about what different people and groups of people might think.”
Killing dingoes and reducing their distribution and abundance means that their important ecological role as a top predator is diminished.
“Dingoes are largely killed to reduce attacks on livestock, especially sheep and goats,” says Ritchie. “Killing dingoes can lead to adverse impacts such as increased numbers or activity of other species, including feral goats, kangaroos, feral cats and foxes, and in turn have negative impacts on ecosystem health and biodiversity.”
With livestock grazing frequently occurring in areas where dingoes live, adopting Predator Smart Farming that utilises a variety of innovative non-lethal tools and practices to protect cattle, sheep and other livestock is recommended.
“Livestock guardian dogs such as Maremma sheepdogs, and livestock guardian donkeys can be highly effective in minimising predation from dingoes, as well as other predators such as foxes and feral cats. Visual and audio deterrents such as automated lights or loud sounds can also be used but have limited practical application across the larger grazing properties,” explains Ritchie.
“I think that the veterinary community are ideally positioned to advocate for evidence-based management and conservation of dingoes when speaking with their farming clients—to highlight alternative predator management options, while also raising awareness about the benefits of having dingoes living in the landscape.”
