Fraser Island (K'Gari) Dingo
Wildlife in Protected Areas
It is said that Dingos were introduced to Australia some 4500-5000 years ago by South East Asian seafarers. They carried the dingos on their vessels as a source of food and dropped them off in remote areas they beached in. This was done so they had a potential food supply in these areas for the future.
Scientists have carbon-dated bones from dingo remains found around the Great Australian Bite in South Australia - at around 3500 years. Scientists have also theorized that Asian seaman would have transported the dogs in the Northern parts of Australia as this was a route taken to the Spice Islands and an area where it is believed that they traded pearls with local Aboriginals. It has been estimated that it would have taken around a thousand years for the wild dogs to be prominent in South Australia, thus they are believed to have been in Australia for 4500-5000 years.
- purest strain of Dingo in Australia
- normally a golden sandy colour
- pricked ears and bushy tails
- stand more than 60cm high
- about 1.2m long
- average weight of around 18kg
- breed only once a year, and mate in autumn, with litters of 4-6 pups
- live for around 10 years
- don't bark, but tend to howl at night
- sub-species of the Asian Wolf
