K’gari NRM Wongari (dingo) Rangers on an early morning patrol, were recently treated to a remarkable wildlife observation: an adult swamp wallaby hopping along the beach, a sight rarely witnessed on K’gari.
As Ranger Russ often says with a tongue-in-cheek smile, “Wallabies have no business being on the beach… unless they’re being chased.” On this occasion, his observation proved accurate.
After patiently watching from a distance, staff observed local resident tagged wongari 36Purple20M appear in pursuit of the wallaby. This particular dingo is most often seen feeding on fish, but on this day, he had different plans.
Male wongari 36Purple20M and captured swamp wallaby on K’gari’s east coast beach (Photo: QPWS) 
36Purple20M with captured swamp wallaby (Photo: QPWS) 
Female wongari ROrange20F carries the wallaby from the beach (Photo: QPWS) 
Female wongari ROrange20F heads up the dune and back to camp with the wallaby (Photo: QPWS)
The chase continued along the shoreline before the wallaby was eventually brought down in the surf wash. Following the successful hunt, a visibly exhausted 36Purple20M left the carcass and returned shortly afterwards with ROrange20F, believed to be his mate. Working together, the pair demonstrated cooperative behaviour, with ROrange20F carrying the adult wallaby up the beach, hauling it onto the dune crest, and then continuing inland with the carcass.
The pair’s actions suggest they may have dependent pups nearby, with the wallaby likely providing an important food source for their family group.
This observation highlights the remarkable adaptability of K’gari’s wongari and their ability to utilise a diverse range of food sources. While many people associate dingoes with terrestrial prey, K’gari’s ecosystems provide access to both land- and marine-based resources. The island’s abundance of plant and animal species is complemented by rich marine food opportunities, all of which contribute to sustaining the wongari population.
At this time of year, the annual whale migration from July to September, together with marine turtle courting and nesting activity from August through April, provides additional marine-based food sources that are often underrepresented in general diet studies. Observations such as this serve as a reminder of the complex and interconnected ecosystems that support the iconic wongari of K’gari.
Article contributed by Linda Behrendorff, Senior Ranger NRM Team, QPWS
FINIA 