A man has been bitten by a dingo amid a spate of incidents at a popular island lake this year.
The man was attacked in the Lake McKenzie carpark on K’gari (formerly Frasier Island) at about midday on Sunday, November 3.
He was walking from his car towards the middle fenced picnic area when a tagged female dingo ran at him from behind and bit him on the back of the right calf.
The man sustained a minor puncture wound as a result.
The dingo moved away when the man turned to face it and kick sand at it.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service senior ranger Linda Behrendorff said rangers were doing patrols nearby at the time and responded quickly.
“Rangers observed the dingo continuing to walk around the carpark and loiter close to vehicles and people for about an hour before it returned to the bush,” she said.
“This is the fourth high risk dingo incident to occur in the Lake McKenzie area this year.
“Previous incidents include a child that was bitten in June, a lady that was lunged at in September and a lady that was bitten last month.
“QPWS rangers have increased patrols in the area and will be providing Be Dingo-safe! messaging to people visiting the lakes on the island.”
Rangers urged visitors to be dingo safe at all times after a recent spate of high-risk dingo incidents there.
“K’gari’s spectacular lakes are popular tourist destinations, but they are also popular areas for dingoes too,” she said.
“It is important that visitors only use the fenced picnic areas when eating or preparing food, and take no food or drinks, other than water, to the lake shores.
“Once you have finished eating, pack all remaining food, scraps, rubbish and dish cloths securely back inside the vehicle.
“Visitors and residents are also reminded to remain vigilant of their surroundings at all times, keep children within arm’s length, never walk alone and carry a stick at all times.”
All negative dingo encounters should immediately be reported to a QPWS ranger by calling 07 4127 9150 or emailing dingo.ranger@des.qld.gov.au.
QPWS carries out constant education and compliance activities on K’gari. Rangers maintain fences at multiple camping areas, conduct daily patrols of the island and respond to human-dingo interactions on a case-case basis.
For more information go to K’gari dingoes.
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