Dingo Control or Conservation? Attitudes Towards Urban Dingoes (Canis lupus dingo) as an Aid to Dingo Management

• Published in: Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference
• Main Author: Atkinson, Sarah A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: eScholarship, University of California 2008
• Subjects: attitudes; Australia; Canis lupus dingo; conservation; dingo; predator management; Queensland; urban wildlife; Life Sciences; Canis lupus
• Online Access: http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/2h13p6j1

There is surprisingly little research into urban dingoes, even though urban areas in Australia are rapidly increasing, along with a concurrent increase in the number of reported conflicts with wildlife. Misguided and so-called ad hoc management of dingo populations, often caused by an over-reaction by the media to a situation, is commonly accredited for these conflicts. There can also be confusion over whom to contact when problems arise. A survey of the attitudes of parents of school-aged children towards urban dingoes in their area was carried out in Maroochy Shire, in South-East Queensland. Respondents generally believed that dingoes could be dangerous, but they preferred that control methods used be ‘humane’. Most respondents obtained their knowledge of dingoes from television and news media; about ¾ of respondents requested information regarding dingo management issues. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service was selected by a majority of respondents as the preferred agency to deal with dingo management.