Dingo taunting
Fraser Island campgrounds are being forced to close due to backpackers taunting wildlife.
Backpackers visiting Fraser Island are under fire for taunting and harassing dingoes forcing the closure of Eli and Maheno campgrounds.
In a bid to get a reaction, backpackers have reportedly been yelling and waving at the animals with one reported to have kicked a ball at one of the animals. The taunting has left rangers with no choice but to close the campgrounds to separate tourists from the dingo pack habitat as the dingo breeding season is about to commence.
One Tree Rock and Cornwells Beach campgrounds were previously closed for the same reason but will reopen in a bid to ease camping pressure.
The decision follows three separate incidents in a week where tourists have been bitten by dingoes.
Island rangers have been visiting campgrounds to warn people of the dangers of the animals and education material has been distributed through tour operators.
But Queensland sustainability minister Kate Jones said she was annoyed by the backpackers behaviour.
“It’s disappointing that tourists are not taking heed of rangers’ advice and it’s distressing to see wild animals being harassed in their own habitat,” she said.
