DINGO

Dingoes have been the scapegoat for sheep farmers’ financial struggles since the early colonial years. Governments have responded with bounties for killing dingoes, baiting programs, and thousands of kilometres of fences. The livestock industry claims dingoes are not genuine native animals, just feral domestic dogs. Dangerous interactions with tourists at campsites keep negative stories about dingoes in the news. But the tide is turning. Science shows there’s little interbreeding with domestic dogs, and that dingoes play an integral role in maintaining ecological balance, including by keeping kangaroos and wild pigs and goats in check. Now dingo numbers are perilously low in many areas. Will Australia be willing to protect the dingo before it’s too late? Roland Breckwoldt unravels the myths and prejudices to tell the true story of an Australian icon.