Dingoes bite two children on K'gari (Fraser Island) in as many days

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Visitors on K'gari (Fraser Island) can expect to see more rangers patrolling parts of the heritage listed island, following a surge of dingo attacks in recent days.

Transcript

00:00The freshwater lake Mackenzie is a swim spot in the heart of Gare, popular amongst tourists.

00:08But most recently, it's been the site of two separate dingo attacks on children in as many

00:14days.

00:15Rangers say a two-year-old child was bitten on the leg by a dingo lingering around the

00:19car park yesterday, two days before a dingo charged at a 12-year-old and a four-year-old

00:25swimming in shallow waters at the lake before biting the four-year-old on the shoulder,

00:29causing superficial lacerations.

00:32Now last Saturday, a woman was bitten on the leg by a dingo as she tried to stop the apex

00:37predator from taking her bag.

00:39That same day, a dingo lunged at a three-year-old who was walking with her family along the

00:44beach on the western side of Gare.

00:48Now that child's family were able to lift her to safety, while spectators from a nearby

00:52boat sprung into action, fending off the dingo with a kayak paddle.

00:58I've spoken to some parents exiting barges this morning.

01:02They say while the recent dingo attacks on children have been scary, it's not enough

01:06to deter them from visiting with their young families.

01:09Generally not very concerned about them.

01:11I just think that people sometimes aren't careful enough when it comes to wild animals

01:15and treat them like a tame dog.

01:18Don't take precautions like you should in the wild.

01:20As long as you follow the rule and then with the people, and especially with the guide,

01:26I think that should be okay.

01:27Now rangers say they're increasing patrols around areas of the island with that high

01:32dingo activity like Lake Mackenzie.

01:35In the meantime, they're urging visitors to stay vigilant, walk with a dingo deterrent

01:40stick, and never travel alone while on the island.

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