The Queensland government says it will euthanise a pack of dingoes linked to the death of Canadian tourist Piper James on Australia’s K’gari Island.
Environment Minister Andrew Powell said a group of 10 dingoes would be destroyed after rangers observed aggressive behaviour and determined the animals posed a public safety risk. Six dingoes were euthanised on Saturday.
James, 19, died earlier this week. An autopsy found evidence of drowning and injuries consistent with dingo bites, though officials said the bite marks were not likely the direct cause of death.
K’gari, also known as Fraser Island, is home to about 200 dingoes. The animals are sacred to the Indigenous Butchulla people, who co-manage the national park under a native title agreement.
Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation secretary Christine Royan criticized the decision, saying the traditional owners were not consulted. She called the move a “cull” and said she was shocked to learn about it after the animals had already been killed.
Dingo attacks on K’gari have become more common, though fatal incidents are rare. Conservationists and experts say overtourism and human behaviour are major factors behind the attacks and warn that killing dingoes could harm the island’s fragile ecosystem.
