Battling dingo extinction

THE iconic dingo is being driven to extinction due to “outdated” laws in Queensland that categorise them as a pest, experts have warned.

Under the state’s Biosecurity Act 2014, dingoes are listed as a restricted invasive animal and Queensland Zoo chief executive Jarrod Schenk has called for the legislation to change. Dingoes are also common throughout the Territory.

“The dingoes causing all these issues are often crossbred with wild dogs,” he said.

“The purebred dingoes are vital to Australia’s ecosystem and are far more shy and timid. There needs to be more done to protect the purebred species.”