Dingoes are a culturally and ecologically significant native wildlife species that have been in Australia for thousands of years. But outdated legal loopholes permit the killing of this vulnerable native animal – against the wishes of the Traditional Owner groups that have co-existed with dingoes in the landscape for millennia.
Traditional Owners must be equal partners in decision-making about their culturally significant species, including dingoes.
Dingoes are culturally and ecologically significant animals that belong in the landscape.
Dingoes came to Australia between 5,000 and 11,000 years ago. They’ve evolved within the landscape to be recognised as a unique native animal and important predator that helps keep Country healthy by managing animal populations and maintaining biodiversity. Present in creation stories and ancient rock art, dingoes are living cultural heritage and an important part of the cultural landscape.
Dingoes are endangered native wildlife that deserve protection.
Old DNA testing mistakenly classified ‘wild dogs’ in Victoria as escaped domestic dogs or hybrid dog-dingoes. New and better testing reveals this to be entirely wrong: 90 per cent of Victoria’s dingoes are pure dingo. Current ‘wild dog’ control schemes are based on that outdated and mistaken testing, and allow for the widespread killing of an endangered native species on public land.
Protecting dingoes is both principled and pragmatic.
Protecting dingoes is the right thing to do, and it also has pragmatic benefits to farmers who want to protect their livestock without killing native animals. Supporting affected farmers to find non-lethal methods to protect their livelihoods is a government responsibility and is critical alongside the protection of dingoes.
Traditional Owners must make decisions about culturally significant species.
Traditional Owners must be recognised and respected as decision-makers for Country and its species with cultural obligations to care for Country.
There is an unbroken chain of fear, hatred and persecution for dingoes since colonisation. They have been turned into criminals, when in fact native dingoes have a critical role to play in maintaining healthy Country and the ecological balance.
Equally partnering with Traditional Owner groups to jointly make decisions about culturally significant species is the right thing to do and will lead to the best outcomes – for Country, community, and these beautiful native animals.
