DINGOES
Policy Statement No. 42:
1. Policy
1.1 Classification as protected wildlife
Since the dingo (Canis familiaris dingo) is a native animal it should be classified as a protected species under the relevant State and Territory wildlife protection legislation.
1.2 No killing without proper justification
Although wildlife protection legislation in Australia allows for the limited killing of protected wildlife under permit, this should only be done with proper justification (such as verified loss of stock to dingoes).
1.3 Removal from noxious animal, pest and vermin lists
Legislation requiring the mandatory destruction of dingoes should be replaced by approved management plans to ensure their conservation, and dingoes should be removed from all noxious animal, pest and vermin lists.
1.4 Elimination of bonus and bounty systems
Bonus or bounty systems for dingo destruction should be eliminated throughout the country.
1.5 Conservation management plans to be developed
Approved management plans for dingo conservation should be developed by governments through a process of full and open public participation.
1.6 Management to minimise problems of hybridisation
Since dingoes are not reproductively isolated from domestic dogs (Canis familiaris familiaris) and hybridisation presents a continuing threat to their genetic integrity, management should be directed to minimising this threat.
1.7 Forest and National Parks required for survival of pure dingo populations
In the intensive agricultural areas (high-rainfall, and wheat/sheep zones), large tracts of forest and national park are vital for dingo conservation and they must be adequate to guarantee survival of viable populations.
1.8 Development of non-lethal control measures
Non-lethal methods should be developed and implemented where dingo populations require control including:
* careful zoning of land use around forests, national parks, etc where dingo conservation is a management objective (eg sheep grazing should be kept away from the boundaries), and
* well-designed and carefully located exclusion fencing.
1.9 Broad-scale and indiscriminate control measures not to be employed
Broad-scale and indiscriminate lethal "wild dog" control measures should not be employed, especially the widespread use of leghold traps, nooses and the aerial broadcasting of non-specific and highly toxic baits, because such methods are unnecessarily cruel and cause substantial losses of non-target species.
1.10 Funds for Research
Federal and State funds should be provided for the development of non-lethal control measures and for general research into the dingo's habits, lifecycle and interactions with other species.
2. Supporting Statement
2.1 Classification as protected wildlife
The dingo is a distinct subspecies of the genus Canis and is recognised by the scientific name Canis familiaris dingo (1).
Dingoes are a unique component of Australia's fauna introduced by Aborigines about 4,000 years ago (2) and their distribution in the wild is confined to mainland Australia.
Commonwealth Wildlife Protection Legislation clearly defines the dingo as a native wildlife species, but its status under State and Territory legislation is variable.
The Australian Conservation Foundation wishes to see dingoes managed within the spirit of the Commonwealth's Wildlife Protection Legislation as a protected animal and an integral component of Australia's wildlife heritage.
2.2 No killing without proper justification
Although the individual State and Territory wildlife protection Acts differ, once a species has the status of protected wildlife, individuals can only be killed under permit and with proper justification.
2.3 Removal from noxious animal, pests and vermin lists
The Australian Conservation Foundation is concerned that in most States/Territories, the dingo is classified as a noxious animal, pest or vermin species and that this status requires its destruction.
2.4 Elimination of bonus and bounty systems
The existence of bonus and bounty systems for dingo destruction causes excessive killing, often well away from agricultural land.
2.5 Conservation management plans to be developed
The inclusion of dingoes on noxious animal, pest and vermin lists, and the existence of bonus or bounty systems means that dingo management plan objectives are for control and extermination, not conservation of a unique wildlife species.
2.6 Management to minimise problems of hybridisation
Dingoes are not reproductively isolated from domestic dogs (Canis familiaris familiaris) and they hybridise with feral domestic dogs in the wild (3,4).
2.7 Forest and National Parks required for survival of pure dingo populations
(a) High Intensity Agricultural Areas
Hybridisation presents an acute dingo conservation problem in the intensive agricultural areas (High Rainfall and Wheat/Sheep Zones [5] of mainland Australia where dingo populations are very restricted and domestic dog populations are dense [4]).
Large tracts of forest and national park are vital for dingo conservation in such areas and they must be adequate to guarantee survival of viable populations (4).
Pure dingoes are not significant predators of domestic stock in the high intensity agricultural areas, but feral domestic dogs do cause significant "wild dog" problems.
(b) Low Intensity Agricultural Areas
Hybridisation is less of a problem in the low intensity agricultural areas (Sheep/Pastoral and Cattle/Extensive Zones [5]), however stock losses to dingoes can be significant in some locations (4).
2.8 Development of non-lethal control measures
In many cases conflicts between wildlife and human interests can be overcome with careful planning of land-use and non-lethal control systems; wherever possible these should be developed and employed.
2.9 Broad-scale and indiscriminate control measures not to be employed
In accordance with the status of dingoes as noxious animal, pest and vermin species and in conjunction with bonus and bounty systems, broad-scale and indiscriminate lethal control methods have often been employed against dingoes and feral domestic dogs.
2.10 Funds for Research
In order to obtain essential objective data on the biology of dingoes and on their impact on ecosystems, it is vital that continuing research programs are developed and adequately funded.
3. References
Clutton-Brock, J., G.B. Corbet and M. Hills, 1976: A Review of the Family Canidae with a Classification by Numerical Methods. Bull, British Museum Natural History 29: 117-199
Gollan, K., 1984: The Australian Dingo: In the Shadow of Man. In Archer, M. and G. Clayton Vertebrate Zoogeography and Evolution in Australasia Hesperian Press, Western Australia: 921-8
Newsome, A.E., 1983: Dingoes. In Strachan, R. (Ed) The Complete Book of Australian Mammals The Australian Museum, Sydney: 482-5
Newsome, A.E. and L.K. Corbett, 1982: Australian Journal of Zoology 30: 365-74
Bureau of Agricultural Economics, 1982 Rural Industry in Australia Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra
Adopted November 1984
Supporting Statement Adopted June 1935