A seasonal update from QPWS’s Wongari (Dingo) Ranger team.

June to August – Wongari Breeding Season

Following the autumn mating season, many female wongari are pregnant.

Gestation takes around 9 weeks, and litters of 1–10 pups (usually 4–6) are born and cared for during the winter months. Once newborn pups arrive, the parents need to find food for themselves and their pups, and they may become more aggressive to protect their pups. Alpha mothers are very dominant and can kill another mother’s pups if she has mated with the pack.

The QPWS seasonal Park Alert reminds visitors to follow dingo safety guidelines and not to feed them or leave food available so that young wongari can grow up wild. Every time a wongari receives food from people, the risk to people increases and the wongari’s chance of survival is reduced. Remember, give wongari space, K’gari is their place.

Winter Seasonal Education Campaign

The current QPWS targeted seasonal education campaign focus is on dingo-safe behaviour for anglers during tailor season (responsible fishing practises) and families with young children (always keep kids within arm’s reach, never walk alone), and safe driving behaviour (drive slowly, watch out for dingoes and other wildlife on the beach and in the bush to keep them safe).

Contributed by Sam Young, Senior Program Officer (Wongari), QPW