By DAN PROUDMAN
AUTHORITIES have repeated warnings about how to deal with fearless Myall Lakes dingoes after police were called to help a group of visitors back to their car after being stalked by one of the animals yesterday.
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| ON THE PROWL: The wild dogs are losing their fear of humans. |
The tourists were walking along Myall beach near Mungo Brush when they noticed the lone animal following them. They rang authorities for help.
No one was injured and the dingo ran off.
Experts believe the dingo may have identified the people as a food source after being fed scraps and scavenging in campsites throughout the nearby national park.
The interaction has prompted the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and police, to issue advice on how to deal with the significant population of dingoes throughout the Myall Lakes area.
National Parks spokesman Lawrence Orel said anyone who felt threatened by the presence of the animals should report it immediately.
"It may well be that the reason they appear to be following people is that other visitors have been feeding them," Mr Orel said.
"They have lost their natural fear of humans and the result is that if the dingo becomes too familiar or unpredictable, it may not be a good result for the dingo."
Dingoes are highly intelligent and, like humans, take the path of least resistance and become scavengers if there is easy food to find.
It also means that when the park is not as full with campers, such as in winter, that the easy feed becomes harder to find.
This week's incident follows a dingo attack on two British tourists last summer.
The dingo stole the tourists' bag, which contained antique jewellery, from Jimmys Beach while the couple were sunbathing nearby.
That dingo was a known offender and had been the subject of numerous complaints from visitors. It was later found and euthanised by council rangers.
No one was injured and the dingo ran off.
Experts believe the dingo may have identified the people as a food source after being fed scraps and scavenging in campsites throughout the nearby national park.
The interaction has prompted the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and police, to issue advice on how to deal with the significant population of dingoes throughout the Myall Lakes area.
National Parks spokesman Lawrence Orel said anyone who felt threatened by the presence of the animals should report it immediately.
"It may well be that the reason they appear to be following people is that other visitors have been feeding them," Mr Orel said.
"They have lost their natural fear of humans and the result is that if the dingo becomes too familiar or unpredictable, it may not be a good result for the dingo."
Dingoes are highly intelligent and, like humans, take the path of least resistance and become scavengers if there is easy food to find.
It also means that when the park is not as full with campers, such as in winter, that the easy feed becomes harder to find.
"The warning is simple - do not feed dingoes or any other wild animals and make sure you get rid of your scraps appropriately," Mr Orel said.
The dingo stole the tourists' bag, which contained antique jewellery, from Jimmys Beach while the couple were sunbathing nearby.
That dingo was a known offender and had been the subject of numerous complaints from visitors. It was later found and euthanised by council rangers.
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