It was with a deep sadness and frustration that we received the DNA results of the “wild dog” shot and strung up to a tree in Thora a few weeks ago – the results showed that it was a pure dingo, as I suspected.
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This adult male, living on the edge of a “Schedule 2” area (the only areas in NSW where dingoes have any skerrick of protection, albeit small), was most probably the father or 'alpha' of a family pack that had been heard howling together in the area earlier in the year. No doubt the ‘dog’ that the property owner saw soon after the dingo was killed was his mate, or one of his juvenile progeny. Dingoes mate for life, and grieve heavily if they lose their partner.
I really do feel for Gordon in the loss of his pet, I too have lost a much loved dog to a neighbouring dingo pack – but really, if you live at the edge of a National Park, you need to be prepared to either take preventative measures to protect your pets and livestock, or take the consequences – just as you would anywhere else in the world if you lived on the edge of wilderness.
I am quite familiar with the ‘traditional’ grazier’s practice of stringing up of the dead dog/s on a tree or fence, they say it is partly to deter other wild dogs, and partly to let neighbouring farmers know the dog/s have been killed.
The first reason is a total fallacy – there is no evidence whatsoever to show that this is an effective deterrent, in fact dingoes are such effective scavengers that any carcass is more likely to attract them.
And as for the second reason, in this particular case, I believe that the main reason for hanging the animal for all to see was more likely to be a way of ‘giving the finger’ to the local greenies.
Gordon and Darcey may believe that in shooting this animal they are doing their bit towards reducing the wild dog problem in the area.
Sadly, as this was a pure dingo, quite the opposite is probably the case. If he was as suspected the father of a family pack, his juvenile and younger offspring from this year’s breeding season will miss out on all the things the father would normally be teaching them throughout the next 18 months, including how to hunt their natural prey effectively, where the pack boundaries lie, discipline and social skills.
The offspring of a ‘fractured’ family pack are more likely to breed a year earlier as juveniles, more likely to breed with neighbouring domestic or feral dogs because of a lack of other dingoes in the area, and more likely to be aggressive stock predators.
Make no mistake – the removal of dingoes will only mean an increase in dingo/dog hybrids, followed by wild feral dogs.
I know which ones I'd like to be living alongside!
The dingoes in this area may not actually eat many cats and foxes, but local studies have shown that they do change the hunting behaviour in a way that is beneficial to many native species.
The Australian ecology in its natural and balanced state includes an ‘apex’ or top-order predator, even before the arrival of the dingo many thousands of years ago. And yet, ignorance, “kill everything” mentality, and the powers of the baiting industry prevail.
I truly hope that instead of continuing to wipe out the rest of this beautiful dingo’s family, Gordon is willing to look into preventative measures to protect his own animals.
- Last month Gordon Manning penned a letter-to-the-editor as follows:
Wild Dog Darkwood Road
For some months there has been a wild dog hanging around my property on Darkwood Road.
While it was minding Its own business there was no problem. After it attacked my child's pet dog it was a different issue. The ante was upped last week when it started hassling my cows and new born calves.
Fortunately, up Darkwood Rd is an old timer farmer that is prepared to help out in such situations. After several visits, Darcey downed it with one clean shot. Yes, in this day and age it's great to know that country traditions of helping out the neighbors does still exist.
It is also a country tradition to hang the wild dog up to let others in the district know that the trouble maker has been dealt with.
Unfortunately, another wild dog has already taken its place, with a bellowing cow all day at the loss of it's new born calf over night.
While Darcey is happy to help out again, I'll be visiting the Cop Shop to get my shooters license.
A good 12 years younger than Darcey, I hope my eyes and hands are as steady as his.