If you would like to contact me, please fill in the contact sheet below. I welcome your comments,
cheers, Jennifer
PS All comments are personally reviewed by me before they are uploaded to the site. If for some reason you don’t wish your comment to be published, please let me know and I will keep it confidential.
Hi Jennifer.
I have just seen the Australian Story on the ABC and I am saddened to hear how you have been treated. We need to keep this fight going. I have been to Fraser Island and seen the dingoes in the distance. Too many people I am afraid, for Fraser Island, and it is such a pity the dingoes are treated like pests of tourism. What can we do to help now? Who can we write to and are donations still needed? Love your photography and art. Lets hope your work is not in vain.
Regards
Larney
Hi Jennifer
I would very much like to become involved with your work and feel very passionate about these wonderful animals, and guilty, for not taking action when they were being culled when that child was killed a few years ago.
I have seen Australian Story tonight, and was sitting with my white Dingo X with me the whole time …. I know their beauty and the special Beings that they are, and would like to know how much international involvement there is/has been from orgs like WSPA/PETA ???
Perhaps this is needed now, given that your story, and theirs, has just gone to air.
Kind regards
Rois Bookallil – northern rivers,NSW
Jennifer for some time I have been concerned about those dingos and have just finished watching Australian Story u did a good thing and do not let anyone tell u any different. It is all about the almighty tourist dollar if tourist refused to go there until a feeding programme was established believe me action would be taken immediately.
Thanks for being there for them.
Hi, Jennifer, Just watched Australian Story. You’re somewhat silly, but also couragous. Silly for not sticking to your studies and for being influenced by your short term partner that swayed you from your research. Your studies of the dingo’s is what is important, and the dingos as you say need protection. There has to be a balance between the human and the dingo world and I hope they find it. Good luck to you and I hope you get the chance to go back to the Island.
Hi Jennifer,
just caught you on ABC Australian Story. So many things come to mind but down here one thing really sticks out, what might have been the result if someone like your self fed the Tasmanian Tiger. I hope there is no parallel in what is happening in your territory.
cheers Nick
Dear Jennifer
We have just watched “Australian Story” this evening and were disgusted with the way the bureaucrats treating you and your concern for the starving poor dingoes. Instead of persecuting & prosecuting you for trying to feed the starving animals, WHY WHY did they not go to the cause of their starvation and resolve this problem. If an animal is starving there must be a reason for it; shortage of food or loss of their habitat!! People are too quick to blame the animal instead of trying to solve the reason why the animal is behaving in an agressive way. As far as we are concerned the less said about the QLD Wild Life and Parks Dept (and their representatives) the better. Plesae do not despair; there are many people behind you and the work you have done and will do in the future is acknowledged. Keep the chin up!! Best wishes. Judith & Dennis
I just watched Australian Story about the dingoes on Fraser Island. Would just like to say that my father (who died about 20 years ago) was a lover of dingoes and would turn in his grave if he saw what was happening. He respected and admired them. How can the people, who are purportedly supervising the island, be unaware that these animals are starving to death? These people are truly inhumane. As usual, I am disappointed at people in government and other agencies connected with it.
Feed the poor buggers.
Ms Parkhurst, I feel for you.
All the very best,
Rose Gatt.
Dear Jennifer,
Just watched Australia Story. Our whole family was appalled, saddened and dismayed by what we saw. We have been to Fraser Island and thought at the time that there should be less tourism and development and more National Park Reserves set aside for these beautiful animals. How rangers can think they are protecting native animals by starving them is unbelievable. What agenda is really at work here? Your bravery is remarkable and I thank the ABC for bringing your story to us here in Victoria where we had not been made aware of it. Farr Family.
Just saw you on Australian Story, To make it illegal to not feed those dingo’s is one of the cruelest things I have ever seen. It is criminal you can get fined for trying to save animals from dyeing, such a shame you had those videos – a lesson for all, if you want to save an animal, and the law is unjust, you just have to take the law into your own hands and do what you think is right. Who are they to say who lives and dies? There is no animal protection law in Australia. Someone can starve a dog to death and get a pat on the hand, someone tries to save a dog, and they get bullied and harassed.
The way Australians treat animals is just appalling. All those dingos that died because just two children were taken. Makes my blood boil. Do hundreds of hippos get killed on African reserves if one tourist get kills? Outrageous.
If I lived up there – I would be sneaking as much food as I could to get to those poor animals, and I would be protesting against those tags, the culling, the starvation, and the bucket loads of tourists who don’t treat that land with the respect it deserve. Eco tourism is the only tourism that should be allowed over there. So many dumb rednecks in this country. Ahhh, it makes me want to leave my own country as I am so ashamed at this backwards and dumbness that I have to live with daily.
Just trying to fight the law on dogs on chains 24/7 & cats in cages 24/7 is hard enough. This is another major war. The war against animals so it seems.
May the indigenous folk get to have the say on what happens to those dingos, and may you get to be with those dingos and get a paid job looking after them.
My thoughts are with you. Another 100 years if we are all still here, they will look back at this with such shame, but most people in this country are just too backwards and plain dumb when it comes to common sense and basic animal rights.
The more time goes by, the more I say I am not a people person anymore, most people are too ignorant and too uncaring towards animals, even so called educated people.
During this time Jen, why don’t you write a book. But be easy on your ex, I think you both did the right thing by feeding them.
Louise
i am 13 and i want to help
i watched australian story ,and seen the injustice and cruelty that has been shown to you and the dingos ,and i want to know more and i want to help.i also love dingo’s and am horrified to hear what has been happening to the ones on Fraser Island. Marley my dog,is half dingo half Dalmatian but looks very similar to your dingo’s exept a darker brown,no trace of Dalmatian ,she is the most intriguing and lovely dog i have met i love her dearly. despite what you may think by this confusing message i am not one of those weird people who think dogs are human or any thing wierd but i love animals and i want to help. please please write back and tell me what i can do.
love elya
Jennifer,we have just watched Australian Story and we wanted to let you know that we have the greatest admiration for you and what you have achieved.
My question is, “Where is the RSPCA in all this?
Surely they could help?
Obviously the rangers and DERM are quite happy for these beautiful animals to die of starvation, an easy way to get rid of them.
it was most interesting to see that the dingo which was nipping at the little girl in the video was not aggressive, it seems he only wanted to play. He didn’t snarl or growl like most domestic dogs would have.
Could some of the dingoes be relocated to Central Australia, instead of being culled?
Keep up the good work.
Dear Jennifer,
I was deeply moved after watching Australian story ‘dogs of war’ on the plight of thr Fraser Island dingo population. I was also insensed at the treatment you received by local authorities and the judicial system.You are a passionate advocate for these beautiful animals and should feel proud that you responded to them with compassion.
Please let me know how I can respond with a donation and who I can write to to articulate my disgust regarding theit treatment/condition.
Cheers
Barb kent
God will be with you forever. Long live he mighty dingo thanks to a wonderful, sexy, beautiful lady.
Well done darling…….it’s about time!!!!
Can’t wait to see “your side” of the story – unless of course
DERM get to Aust Story and tell more bull*^!t!!!!!
Hopefully this will educate people about the dingo and make them
aware they are NOT the vicious, dangerous, aggressive scavengers made out
by some people Inc. government departments!!!!!
JEN – at last a TV program willing to place the facts to the public in this land. It has taken many years to have a film delivered about the Dingo – which is fact and not stupid sensational rot that is contrived to denigrate this creature. So glad Australian Story are going to give you and the Dingo a ‘Fair Go’! I contacted 60 minutes a few years ago and they were not at all interested in covering the plight of the Dingo. I gave u after it was such a battle to get someone to cover this subject that most Aussie’s know little about! Weird really as they cover other animal stories and a man with Wolves in the UK yet wont touch OUR DINGO!! Well…. that is their loss. Aussie’s love Australian Story. It is time the Dingo had some publicity that was good instead of the continued tripe that is distributed by those backers of 1080 and idiocy!! Go JEN GO!
Good luck with your campaign – you have our full support and you will win.
Full details of your work and campaign has now been published on the SAV site which can be seen at:
http://serbiananimalsvoice.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/australia-200211-please-take-further-action-on-behalf-of-the-starving-fraser-island-dingoes-by-now-sending-an-open-letter-see-below-to-the-minister/
Keep on keeping on; none of these things defending innocent animals from constant human abuse are ever easy and simple, but good always triumphs over evil in the end. You will achieve a positive result.
Go for it and save the Dingoes !!
Mark;
Founder – ‘Serbian Animals Voice’
Kent, England, Uk.
Hello Jennifer Parkhurst:
I just discovered you while surfing for information on the dingo. I admire you, your work and your spirit.
A very small group of friends here in Canada has created a Facebook group: Save the Australian dingo. I suggested that they also join your Facebook group.
I am Ojibway and my people faced extinction due to smallpox and alcohol, so I empathize with other beleaguered species.
Keep up the good work. I am going to look for your books here in Canada.
Ramona Kiyoshk
Hi Jennifer, a neighbour ( who also loves our Alpine Dingo Banjo) dropped by with an article relating to your fine. We also have a pack of rats for Rangers locally, and they hound Banjo. Mind, they don’t like being told as I do whenever I see them.
So far two Rangers and a Mayor have new jobs for harassing us…
We have discovered how superb Dingoes can be. And Banjo loves his ‘family’
I cannot tell you anything, I am sure, but keep up the good work.
Regards,
Dingo Chris
Hi Jennifer
I am keen to contact you about a documentary on animal law which we are developing through my company. We have received support from Australian Screen and Screen NSW and a grant from Voiceless to research and write a treatment for a documentary that explores the emerging area of law in relation to the treatment/protection of animals. I am extremely interested in talking to you about your case. I make documentaries through my company Jumping Dog Productions (see website) for ABC1 and SBS sometimes in co-prodcution with overseas broadcasters. Would you please contact me regarding the best way for us to link up so I can better introduce myself and my work and idea (I can send an outline of the proposal if you prefer). I think your story is fascinating and needs to be told!
Many thanks
Susan Lambert
Jumping Dog Productions/Stray Dog Productions
0407001624
I would like to know why one person was fined $750 no conviction the other $1,750 no conviction recorded but Jennifer $40,000 with a 3 year suspended sentence..!! there’s something wrong in the State of Qld.
Kate Jones in the FCC article about the court case is making statements that are quite untrue. Never at any stage has Glen Elmes advocated feeding dingoes. Glen has on a number of occasions, to his credit, met with Residents on Fraser Island and spoken to organisations and the public about the many issues concerning Fraser Island, in particular the dingo situation. The topic of Feeding stations has come up, but NEVER public feeding and encouraging people to break the law, this is really stooping very low even For Ms. Jones.
Court case of Julie Fechner and Pen Alexander, who fed dingoes. one of which fed them for 30 years……….
What a croak of shit!!!!!!!
Poor Jen – I believe they are still dragging her name out and continuing to blame her for any tiny incident on the island!!!
I love the part about how a dingo Jen feed (or Dingoes) – Later went on to bite a child………………naturally it’s all Jen’s doing, got absolutely NOTHING to do with the fact they are starving
and no-one is mentioning if the child was teasing the dingo – or in fact was even a real bite, or just a friendly nip…………
Kate Jones is such a pathetic XXXXX………..I’m sure there is absolutely nothing else to possibly go on about – especially after the floods and cyclone Yasi…..
QLD (Labour) party is certainly on a mission to drive out the poor dingoes – forever…………
So Kate Jones is the “Sustainability Minister”, – WTF – so for a laugh have just looked up a definition of sustainability;
“In essence, sustainability is about meeting the needs of today, without adversely impacting on the needs of tomorrow.
As a term it can be applied across a range of areas, such as the environment, society and the economy”………………….So basically KJ is concentrating on destroying the dingoes (literally) and prosecuting those
who disobey HER and HER PARTY – so then in the future we won’t have problems or “issues” with the dingoes……here here………….well done KJ……………….that’s meeting the needs of the people of FI and RB etc. etc………..
(Good thing Mr. Glenn Elmes has NO idea about the “real” views of the community then isn’t it hahahahahahaha?????????????)
hi jennifer im in admiration of ure efforts to help save the dingo, you are what i call a real australian!dont give up on our ancient icon god bless.
Hi Jennifer, I have just been looking at you website and would be interested in getting involved in supporting what you do, I have always been doing a lot of the things you do to make as much difference to the world in my own small way as possible, I am now in a better position to do this, I am a cruising sailor, diver, 4wd builder repairer , and love to help our wild life where ever possible ,I am at TCB living on my boat at the moment and will be here for a fair while ,so if there is anything I can help you with I would love to hear from you Regards Jeff
Hi
Great site.!!
Realy believe in what you are doing..but…Please get someone to setup your book sales up with paypal so its all automatic.
Its Just archaic the way it is set up at the moment.
Mike
hi, just read about your fine and am outraged by it. would love to do an interview with you for mu globally broadcasting animal rights show and maybe do a donation appeal as well. pls get in touch preferrably via email pls, thanks, thomas
Hey Kenny, I have a coupla sticks at my place , millions of termites and wouldn’t mind learning how to breathe proppa deadly like.
Hi Jennifer,
I only learned about SFID today when I saw a 4WD with the SFID webside on its spare tire cover.
Please don’t give up your fight for the dingoes. These beautiful animals need our help.
Too many people take it for granted that Australia has one of the most amazing wildlife on our planet. And as the name already says, it is WILD-life. Fraser Island is not a playground. No patents would go to Krueger National Park in Afrika, open their car door and let the kids out to play and then expect the Government to kill all the lions because they have attacked.
The dingoes were in Fraser Island first. Now they are starving because humans eliminated their natural food source. How long before some people learn that they do not have the right to erase native Australian beings ( be it humans or animals ) out of “convenience” ?
How many more times in the future will they have to say SORRY !!
Best wishes, please let me know if I can help.
Karin
There are times to allow Natural Selection to decide. The situation with the dingos in this affected area is not one of them. When man creates an abnormal circumstance, the answer is not to say “Well, that’s the reality now, so those whic…h can survive will do so, and the rest will just have to be passively culled.” The REAL answer is for men to learn to live with the rest of the planet without such blatant, wanton, unnecessary impact. Maybe we will keep on driving our cars and there wildlife casualties. That is something that has relatively minor impact in most cases, because the roads take up precious little space relative to the rest of the landmass, and because most animals can learn to avoid the vehicles. (Even there, a bit of mitigation is in order.) But the dingo situation has been created by far broader strokes within the environment, and by direct and intentional malfeasance on the part of men. Those canines have been around far longer than whites have lived on Australia, doing just fine until we appeared. Only a fool would think that the problems they’re experiencing now are not created by us and our selfish myopic actions, and the following of those sacred Rules. It is those Rules and practices which need to be changed, no Jennifer’s actions. That you dare chastise her and insult us all has now firmly been refuted. So go back under whatever rock you crawled out of, attention whore, and leave the rest of us to tend to what you haven’t the cerebral abilities to grasp.
Hi Peter, Great to get your letter, though it’s sad to receive yet more confirmation that the dingoes’ numbers are noticeably dwindling. I loved your story of the dingoes at EP sitting with you while you enjoyed a coldie. I’ve certainly done that many a time! Isn’t it lovely to be able to commune with nature in such a way? Jen
Sarah, thanks for your comments. I REALLY appreciate your support. And thank you for directing me to DJ’s article. Some great articles/research papers have been released through Griffith Uni, especially anthropological theses which are very long but very much worth reading.
From the article you recommended, I found this quote: ‘One prominent assertion is that feeding leads to closer contact with nature, which in turn enhances a ‘conservation ethic’; people who feed birds are more likely to care more about conservation.’
This is pretty much what Kate Jones said about the dolphin feeding in TCB in early October 2009.
That was after a very long fight against the same government who wanted to have the feeding stopped.
Another statement from the article is also profoundly true and I would suggest, especially for visitors to Fraser Island: ‘Westerners, more and more divorced from contact with nature, appear to be searching for simple and meaningful ways of interacting with wildlife’
Most of all, Darryl J’s assertion that: ‘research-based findings remain relatively rare’ is true. To date, the information handed out by the powers that be is still unpublished and not peer-reviewed in any scientific magazines or journals. And no – neither are my assertions. But I don’t claim to be using ‘world’s best science’. I’ve just been reporting things as I’ve seen them. Cheers – Jen
Jen, I am appalled by some of the negative comments you have received recently. It really drives home the kind of ignorance, psychopathy, aggression, and even misogynism you’ve been up against…and what all of us are up against, really, who care about the survival of the Fraser Island Dingoes. Its revolting. And as always, your responses show you to be the good humoured, incredibly knowledgeable, and graceful person you are.
I find it disturbing, in particular, that so much ignorance exists with DERM itself regarding the practice of providing supplement food to wild animals. This same ignorance is cross-species, and in the birding world (which is where I’m involved), almost all of the myths spread by organizations such as DERM have been debunked via Independent Scientific Study. There is one study in particular you might find interesting, by Professor Darryl Jones at Griffith University. http://www98.griffith.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/10072/23695/1/51278_1.pdf. I was first shown this by Birding Australia.
As you might expect, his paper debunked virtually all the myths surrounding feeding wild birds that are spread by organizations such as DERM, including the notion that supplement feeding causes dependence & a kind of `stupidity’ where the bird & its young no longer know how hunt for food, or can tell friend from foe. Its a terrific read for anyone interested in the subject.
Anyway thanks again for all the valuable information you are putting out there about the Fraser Island Dingoes; I have learned so much from you, and look forward to continuing my education.
X Sarah
Hi Jenn, Sorry about your outcome in court recently. You do have to ask yourself “what do some of these people have for brains”. Do the words long drops give you a clue? I often frequent Fraser Island (as I live nearby), by boat these days but by 4WD back in the 80′s & 90′s. I have seen first hand the decline in not only in numbers but in the quality of these magnificent animals. We were actually over on the Island today and that is what inspired me to write to you. I was anchored right on the shore line just north of Elbow Point when two dingos came walking along the beach and sat right in front of our boat for quite sometime. These poor pooches were just skin and bone and it was obvious they hadn’t had a good feed for god no’s how long. We took our chairs up under the shade of a sheoak to have a cold can and the dingos followed us and sat not more than 5 metres from us for close to an hour. These dogs were weary of us and the slightest quick move seem to spook them but at no stage did we feel in the least bit threatened by them. As long as we sat there quietly they were happy to sit and watch us. Brilliant. Now what I would like to know are there any groups around locally that are looking after there well being because i would like to be part of it if i can help in some way. As an avid animal lover I left Elbow Point today feeling very very sad for these animals and couldn’t help but feel that this is all in the name of tourist dollars. My biggest hate in the world bar none is animal cruelty and it seems to me that man is the cause of there suffering. I hope we don’t have to waite untill near extingtion before the politicians decide we need to do something.
Regards and keep up the good work.
Peter
Dear Mr or Ms ‘A Fraser Dingo’ and Herb
Thank you for your comments, but it’s a shame you were unwilling to be transparent about your identities.
I wonder if you would be so kind as to provide me with independent, peer-reviewed scientific evidence to back up your claims. I have many research papers here from well respected members of the scientific community (who have studied canid and other animal behavior all around the world) that clearly show that while animals imprint on an individual person, they do not then see all human beings as friends. However, a dingo’s natural curiosity draws it to people, especially with an ever-changing population of people like we have on FI, entering the dingoes’ territories.
The habituation argument does not make sense, especially with regards to the FI dingo, which has lived in symbiotic harmony with people for thousands of years. The Butchulla Elders will tell you that there was never an incident of a dingo attacking a child during their management of the Island.
Unlike its mainland counterpart, the FI dingo is not a hypercarnivore, and only hunts prey smaller than itself. Likewise, dingoes condition their young what to eat by giving them samples of food when they regurgitate, or when they deliver carcasses to the pups. So if the pups were not given human flesh to eat, they would not see us as prey items. I gave them small offerings of foods naturally available on the Island (over a short period of time), just enough to sustain them so that they had the energy to hunt. If you want to talk to anyone about giving dingoes unnatural foods, go and find Adam Randall and ask him about it. If you can find him.
Hand-outs from people do not stop domestic dogs from displaying hunting techniques or attempting to hunt when in the bush or even down at the park. Likewise, hand-outs to dingoes do not stop them hunting. An adult dingo needs the equivalent of one rabbit per day, or 3-6 kilos of food. No one person could possibly afford to supply that much food to a whole pack of dingoes.
You would know from your own data that most incident reports are in fact examples of juvenile dingo play behavior. 95% of dingoes destroyed on FI have been juveniles or pups, under the age of 12 months old
You would know yourself by reviewing the ‘incident reports’ that many of the incidents that occurred were ranger-instigated. In one report the ranger left a car door open and the dingo climbed inside. The ranger was able to calmly lean across the dingo and open the passenger door to let it out. And in most reports, the rangers themselves state that the dingoes were not aggressive. In fact, the dingoes did not even attack when they were being trapped and inhumanely killed with an excruciatingly painful injection of valabarb to the heart.
Conversely, the dingoes were mercilessly hazed, even when doing nothing but walking along the beach on their own. And a member of the pack was collared and given aversive conditioning treatment, which changed the pack social structure and hierarchy, causing the animals to suddenly appear on the beach more regularly. Lets also remember that incidents Island-wide that year were increased, due most likely to increased tourist numbers, and I was certainly not at Waddy Point or anywhere near Eurong when those incidents occurred.
Local residents are never attacked or bothered by dingoes, so the fact remains that the incidents are caused by inappropriate education, and lack of parental supervision. In both the 2001 case and the unnamed and very vaguely reported 2009 incident, the parents were at a long distance from their children.
As experts yourselves, you know the difference between ‘naturally lean’ and emaciated.
As people allegedly committed to animal welfare, how could you condone an animal’s caretaker driving past a dingo that is so emaciated it can barely walk, and not at the very least euthanize it.
Hi Mike,
thanks for your comments. i have actually been to the Territory and photographed crocs, and they didnt eat me either. yes, i often used telephoto lenses, but i suppose you dont understand how thick the bush is on FI and that you can not shoot in, around, or through vines and rainforest. if the dingoes were so dangerous, why did they not attack me? dont say it was becasue i lured them with food, becasue for 6 years i did not. next time i come to the Territory i will give you a call and you can show me how it is done. Jennifer
Where is the Justice in all of this?
Ex friend Adam Randall is fined $2500 and no conviction, and DERM wanted to fine you $4000.00 but the Magistrate J. Smith decides he wants 9 mths jail and a $40,000.00 fine.
OK the jail sentence was suspended but with 3 yr Good Behaviour.
The Justice metered out here has gone beyond all reasoning. It appears that because this Magistrate sat on the Clinton Gage case his opinion has been biased from the beginning.
As I have said previously, the Rangers have shot about 100 dingoes and have not been charged, and you have tried to save starving dingoes and you cop this.
I hope the public will now see the injustice you have had to suffer by a Govt Department trying to cover up their failed Dingo Management Plan.
Minister Kate Jones keeps saying the Island is being managed under the World’s Best Standards, (and her Rangers keep shooting dingoes ) but soon the truth will be exposed for the rest of us to see.
Hi, Like yourself I am a photographer covering a plethora of subjects, published both nationally and internationally.
I cut my teeth on wildlife from the early age of 15 in the NT. After a few quite interesting experiences with dingos I was prompted to ask old timers about the propensity of these creatures to attack ….usually I must admit in at least pairs. The reply I invariably got was “f^^^^ng oath young fella”, followed, upon my describing the relevant event, with, you’re effing lucky to be alive. For the last forty years I have retained a healthy respect as well as admiration for them.
Pity someone didn’t take you in hand at some time and tell you how bloody stupid you were being.
I’m really sorry but I cannot in any way condone the behaviour nor find one whit of sympathy.
By the way there are such tools as telephoto lenses and televerters, etc.
Or were you just trying to prove the old adage ‘ Blondes have more fun’ by using short lenses.
Actually I would like to be around, camera at the ready, when you decide to come to the ‘Territory’ and feed saltwater crocodiles so you can get close up images
Dear Jen,
Its been a shattering time for you lately, and I wanted to send you some love, some hugs, and my support. You have been bullied. You have lost some great Puppy friends, who must have been like family to you. You have been used as a scapegoat. And reading between the lines regarding your ex partner, it sounds like you may have also been betrayed? That’s an awful lot of hardship for one big hearted woman to shoulder, and I really feel for you.
I realize your heart is broken right now, but I want to say, please don’t buy into DERM’s scapegoating or blame yourself for the things they’ve tried to push onto you. Please hold onto the big picture. DERM have been starving out the Dingo’s on the Island, probably expecting some aggression, but not expecting the deaths of children, or public scrutiny. They probably don’t want to face up to what they’ve done. So they are clinging to the delusion that Dingo feeding, and not dingo starvation (ie DERM’s practice’s), are responsible. Your enormous fine just highlights that you’ve touched some nerves and messed with their denial. YOU DIDN’T CAUSE DINGO AGGRESSION- THEY DID. And as you know well, starvation and cruelty bring out the worst in animals. The responsibility for previously unseen levels of Dingo aggression on the Island is Derm’s, and theirs only.
I’m thinking of you Jen. I hope you recover quickly, and know that a lot of people are on your side.
X Sarah
Dear Jennifer. A LETTER OF SUPPORT.
I take the time to email you just to say I read in the paper today that you were fined $40,000.00 for following your natural instinct of being kind and caring for animals, in this case, the Fraser Island Dingos.
I truly believe that you are owed a BIG APOLOGY for the way you have be treated and punished. I am sure your research and photography would stand well to earn a PHD. Sincerely wish you all the very best. Ed
In support, please find below a letter I posted 05 November 2010 10:10 a.m in the online Fraser Coast Cronical:
A classic demonstration of authority flexing its muscle by vigorously pursuing a punitive outcome in lieu of a common sense and compassionate outcome in the case of a lady who simply was GUILTY of exercising the natural instinct of human kindness by feeding a starving animal. All in good faith, certainly not with deliberate disregard for the law, simply good old fashion human kindness. And it only cost $150,000 to prosecute her for being kind. And the $40,000 penalty imposed for this act of kindness? Dogs owners who are prosecuted for horiffic cruelty to their pet often get fined under a $1000.00. Another sad case in Australia where kindness or honesty is rewarded by way of punishment. Common sense and compassion we lived with once, now dead a buried. Sad
“Heather:
I know you must become disheartened and tired at times, but what you have done and produced is fantastic, and at the end of the day you will know that you have acted properly and ethically, and ultimately that is all you can do. Best of luck.”
What?? No what she did was act ILLEGALLY and unethically. Its plain and simple.
You actions are those of a selfish idiot with no regard for others. What on earth were you thinking feeding them? Its not up to you to judge what is best for them. I hope you get the book thrown at you. Bloody do gooder eco warriors whom ultimately just think about themselves.
Hopefully commonsense will prevail and the magistrate will do more than just fine you.
“Anyone who feeds dingoes is breaking the law and will face the consequences,”
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has warned that feeding dingoes changes their behaviour and can have serious consequences.
“If pups learn to associate humans with food they do not learn to hunt,” general manager Terry Harper said in a statement.
“Instead, they grow up scavenging from these areas and are no longer wary of people.
“As we saw in this case, when this happens the results can be very dangerous.”
Its the same as those stupid tourists that ignore the signs in Surfers Paradise and feed the Ibis, then complain about the birds getting into the rubbish. I hope that $40,000 fine makes you think.
Well Jennifer, the Magistrate was lenient indeed. Perhaps the fact that you pleaded guilty to the charges was taken into consideration. Nonetheless you have been shown to be a hypocrite – claiming to be the environmental saviour of Fraser Island but in large part actually doing the dingoes you interact with a disservice. You have contributed in no small part to the progressive habituation of some of these animals that you have enticed with food in order to obtain better photographs. Shame on you for choosing to disregard the rules and guidelines that are put in place via the Management Plan to protect these animals from becoming more habituated.
It’s just a shame that an apparently large number of people are sufficiently gullible to believe even 1/3 of the rubbish that is espoused on the Facebook pages of the SFID people. It just goes to show that if you use the right emotive words and couple them with pictures of naturally lean dingoes the majority of people will believe that they are actually being starved.
Your sentence today will delight many of the people who work on the island helping to educate visitors and picking up the pieces after those who choose not to abide by the guidelines. I too would have smiled when the Magistrate handed down their verdict today had I been in Court.
Have a great week Jennifer, remember that suspended sentence and reflect on it often.
A. Fraser Dingo
your work with conservation and dingo preservation is inspirational!
Hi Jennifer
Thinking of you tomorrow, good luck….. <3
Many of us will be there tomorrow 3 Nov 2010 , to support you in Court. Hopefully commonsense will prevail and the magistrate will see the Injustice been dealt to you by DERM.
Hi Jennifer – that is terrible what has happened to you. Thank you for fighting for the dingoes. I am one of those people who was attacked by dingoes on Fraser Island. There were 3 dogs attacking me but I would never support culling or hurting them. We venture into their territory – we take a risk. I was about 24 at the time and swimming by myself at sunset at Lake MacKenzie back in 1998.
I was shocked at the treatment I received by the rangers though when it happened. I was carried into their office by 2 men with about 15 bites in my legs and hands and the rangers just laughed at me, said I must have been feeding them (I was not) and did not even make a record of it. After realising after about 10 minutes they had no interest in recording what happened we left for Gympie Hospital. They clearly did not want to know about the problem. And in fact the info flyer they give you when you come onto the island is misleading and wrong. My legs turned black and blue with deep wounds and I could not walk for about 3 weeks. And NPWS had no system in place to record these events (or did not want to). I felt sick when I heard about Clinton Gage a couple of years later.
I hope you can help save those beautiful animals.
I am really disturbed at the way you have been treated.
Equally I am horrified at the seemingly deliberate distruction of the beautiful Dingo’s on Fraser Island.
It is obvious that the dollar is more important than the protection and valuing these stunning animals. You are a brave lady and I hope that all goes well for you. We have far to few people like you in this country and it saddens me. Wild animals are to be valued and appreciated but the play ground for a few cashed up tourists seems to be more important. Thank you for fighting for what is right and good luck.
Dear Jennifer,
I sent you a letter of support for yout trial, I do hope you have received it.
I hope you get a sympathetic judge and one who is not afraid to stand up to the government.
I wish you the very best of luck at the trial and my thoughts are with you.
Kind regards
Lynda
Thank you everyone for leaving your comments, it gives me so much strength to know that you are all behind me. i appreciate the time youhave taken to write. when this is all over i will write to you all presonally.
Hello from Canada, Jennifer.
A really good mate of mine, perhaps you know her, Cheryl Bryant, sent me the link to your site and has kept me up to date about the problems concerning you and the Dingo population on Fraser Island.
I just want you to know that I am in your corner. May God bless you for your efforts and keep you safe from the wrongful doings of the Aus government.
You are to be commended for your efforts in trying to preserve the Dingos. It’s individuals such as yourself, who are the ones who truly care about our animal kindom and all of its members. Governments cannot see the forest for the trees. They only care about the here and now and money, not the preservation of our animals or our planet as a whole. Let’s face it, they only concern themselves with dollar signs.
Governments seem to think that they can get away with murdering innocent animals. They forget that the world is watching. Governments can and will be replaced. People of Australia are not blind or stupid and the truth will get out. The government of Australia will be exposed for the murderous villians that they are. I live in a small town in Canada and I know about the QLD Government’s misuse of power and their inhuman treatment of the Dingos and you can be sure that my contacts will hear about it also. Your Government will end up with egg on their faces.
Hang in there, Jennifer, you are a hero to all of us across the globe who love animals.
My prayers are with you
Susan
I know you must become disheartened and tired at times, but what you have done and produced is fantastic, and at the end of the day you will know that you have acted properly and ethically, and ultimately that is all you can do. Best of luck.
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks you so very much for all you are doing for these wonderful animals. My hopes and prayers are with you.
God speed,
Ellyn
l think its a discrace what they have done here, the government needs to be shot for this mockery of justice and for the cruelty done to australias only pure dingo still alive.Just a discrace qld government.
Dear Jennifer,
For the government to raid your home and confiscate your belonging and take 6 hours to do it and that there is a court case pending is beyond believe that you were treated in such an disgraceful way. This reaction from the govt. only shows their fear that they will be exposed for the inhuman and shameful way they are treating the dingos on Fraser Island, that they will be exposed for trying to starve them to death and that their real intent is to drive them to extinction and that is why you are targeted because you can prove all this. Only terrorists and big crime individuals are treated in this manner not someone who is trying to help innocent and defenseless animals. The QLD government is afraid that you will expose the truth but the truth is already out there and people world wide know what they are doing to our dingos. Your website echos the truth that cannot be denied. You are a hero, a truth fighter who has ethics and morals and no matter what happens they cannot take away who you are and what you stand for. Govts. have no ethics or morals no compassion nor humanity when it comes to any animal. In the end the govt. will not only have egg on their face but will be even more exposed through this pending court case and they will come out looking like the villains and you will always be the hero.
May you be protected from ill doing, take care and bless you for who you are.
Dear Jennifer.
Thank-you for who you are and what you do. I am with you all the way. My prayers are with you.
Hugs
Darlene
Dear Jennifer,
I can see that what you are doing could easily be me, so a big thumbs up for what you are trying to do for the dingo. It is totally wrong and im sure it breaches human rights what they are doing to you. I personally love the dingo and have helped look after 2 tame dingos at the national zoo and aquarium in Canberra many years ago. I cherished them both dearly and they showed love like any domestic pet dog would. I have always wanted to visit Fraser Island just to see and spend time watching the dingo’s, but now im not so sure I want to given the crap that’s been going on there since 2005/06. The best time I have had with wild dingos was at Myall Lakes NP, there were a number of lovely dingo’s that came into the camp area, and one came a few times to just sit with us, I felt privileged to share there home with them, and watching 2 younger ones play was lovely. Hang in there, im sure there will be more people backing you then the government.
The dingo needs more people like you.
Thank you so much Merike, i appreciate your support
Dear Jennifer,
reading the ‘comments’ it is good to see that there are so many people who support you, as I do too.
My concern is not so much about the dingoes but about the way you have been treated. It is hard to believe that here in Australia a government agency actually RAIDED your home, took your posessions, spent months (at public cost)going through your computer, threatening you with imprisonment as a CRIMINAL! And for what crime?
There must obviously be something political behind this action and you as the whistleblower are the scapegoat.
Please add my name to those who feel for you in what you are going through, and
I offer my support in whatever way I can.
What’s with the magistrates up there? Haven’t they worked out that poor little Clinton died because his parents weren’t properly supervising him despite all the advice provided about dingoes. I wonder how their legal framework trained minds would reconcile Corbett ‘independently’ auditing his own dingo management strategy. Seems like the bad old days of the bjelke-Peterson fascist state again, where logic is no match for vested interests and ignorance.
Hello J, Irecieved your newsletter and I was thinking of what you wrote about Ronin.
I just hope everyone in DERM reads that and understands completely what you have written.
It was is well written and explained how a male dingo behaves, well one part of him.
Maybe some people wont grasp the meaning of all that, but it certainly proves that dingoes will not attack for no reason.
They will give warnings and talk to us in their language.
We only have to listen and understand.
People of greatness often suffer in their life
And you did from the ‘he’ who wanted you as wife
So many friends come and go
Some, like a bad smell, just wont go
You have a calling to have survived this long
By gathering good people, a thousand strong
You have incredible depths of strength and passion
And those who follow will try to fashion
Yet none know of your daily struggle
When at times you just want a cuddle
It seems that everything you love, you lose
Its not fair, certainly not what you’d choose
So against all odds you struggle to survive
It’s not a job, like nine to five
You are specially gifted in so many ways
Like a beacon of light thru the twighlight haze
And in this sense you have touched so many
Whether you know it or not, it’s uncanny
After all, you are only human
Sharing your life as a private woman
Brave, yet shy
Not wanting to lie,
Struggling with health
Never having money, wealth
Trying to please all the others
When you’d rather be hiding
Under the covers
What doesn’t kill you makes you strong
The past 12 months were way too long
Now that the end is coming nearer
Your future will soon become clearer
In recognition for what you did to achieve
Now the doubters will have to believe
That you were right all along
Now the dingoes will sing ‘your song’
DS 25-8-10 1st anniversary of raid.
Extraordinary:
Adjective: very unusual or remarkable
Synonyms: astonishing, astounding, unbelievable
Origin: Latin, ‘extraordinarius, from extra ordinem:
‘outside the normal course of events’
Dear Jennifer,
Some chose to describe it as the ‘x’ factor, but by whatever name, there is a special something, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
This forth decade has seen your character develop and mature from its own mix of good genes, sound morals and values, all instilled within a loving family environment. Add a wealth of life experiences, gathered from journeys to Australia’s arid deserts, the mountains and valleys of the high country, and now recently, our magnificent coastal waters.
Many people have shared your steps at different stages, with a new friendship forged at every greeting. They bear witness to a talented and free spirit, completely at ease with all of God’s creatures.
That spiritual something, is deep within your soul. Through much blood and oceans of tears you have worked with an inner strength and passion that few are able to comprehend.
Mystique (the dolphin) and Kirra (the dingo), together with all of the animals, have sensed this quality within your soul.
The events of these past 12 months have shaken you to your very core. An evilness you never knew existed, has robbed your trust, destroyed forever an innocence pure of hate, polarized a whole community, set neighbor against friend and even caused you to question your own faith and reason for being.
Yet it is the depth and strength of your faith, together with a groundswell of people who care, that will give you the will to fight this injustice and betrayal. Whatever mortal path lays ahead, be assured that in God’s eyes, you are pure, innocent before His commandments, and a truly ‘extraordinary person’. Ray Lynch 28-8-10
It appears Kate Jones is trying to do what Desley Boyle tried to do at the dolphins and stop the feeding and how ridiculous was that and I think now momentum is gathering force and you will get stronger and stronger, although I know you would rather be with your beloved dingoes. I am not sure how you tell the dolphins that feeding has been legally stopped and how you tell the dingoes they have to be off the beach from sun up to sun down. It is so farcical it is hilarious!
And unfortunately you have become the meat in the sandwich but at least you are starting to attract some big guns to your stable and that is a very important step forward. Bob Irwin will always carry weight and Glen Elmes, good on him for sticking his neck out and the ridicule of Labour in Parliament is thumbing their noses at the people who took the time to submit. I see the Bligh Government is at its lowest level it has ever been for years.
I have just read the Hansard reports and also the submission by Glen and they are very impressive. I am glad that there was a referral to your “home invasion”. I believe that to be important. So your case is not only rolling along with Hansard now, with your Save the Dingo Campaign, with Bob Irwin, you are getting some big names behind you mate and that is important. And here we pause and think of the role God is playing in all of this. You are a champion mate.
Love and Blessings C & R Philipines
Hi Richard,
thanks so much for your comments. you make me proud to be an Aussie, even if the country is going to the dogs… thought that would probably be a good thing
Jen
Hello again Jennifer
Meeting you today was a real pleasure and an honour to meet an Australian that really understands our fabulous wildlife and has the strength and moral fibre to get out there and make a difference to our rubbished beaches and threatened Dingoes. Hearing of the rape of your privacy and the theft of your belongings by QPWS/DERM first hand was truly chilling. I am sure this is felt by thousands of animal lovers through out this screwed up country.
I have been feeding Dingoes at Ayres Rock, Alice Springs and Rainbow Beach and on Fraser Island since 1992. I have also fed birds of prey, Brumbies, Dolphins and any other creature that has its ribs showing through its skin! I await the knock on the door from DERM/QPWS and will gladly have a cell near yours any day.
Hi Jen,
Thanks for uploading those great videos to youtube! I loved them and learned a lot from them too, especially the stuff about how ear tagging causes some Dingo Pups to starve when they interfere with the Pup’s ear and hearing. It totaly makes sense when you think about it. And I loved seeing those images of the Dingo families playing in the water amonst the magroves- they were priceless!
Only someone talented who had earned their trust could get such intimate video footage of those Dingo families and their pups. You are wildlife documentary artist worthy of awards, not persecution.
Hi Poppy,
thank you for your lettter,
there is an official Save Fraser Island DIngoes site but it is not running at the moment.
Please see the facebook site for comments from people who know about the issue: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=102445695086
For video about the starvation issues etc: http://www.youtube.com/savefraserisdingoes
and if you feel strongly about this issue, please sign the petition below:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-our-dingo
Cheers
Jennifer
Hello Jen,
I go to a school off the fraser coast and am upset by this issue. I also really like your website and I know that it is about dingoes on fraser island being starved to death which is extremely unfair. However I was just wandering whether you have any websites which would provide me with information about the fraser island dingoes bein culled because I am really passionate about this issue and I want to learn more about it.
Thank you so much and I hope to hear from you soon (:
Hang in there girl
I have had dealings with e.p.a and parks and wildlife
They are NOT honest people,they lie and cheat especially
in court;they are a low form of life.
The police are not much better.
It is discusting that the r.s.p.c.a are not doing
something about the condition of the animals;you can see
where they get there money from.Stick with Michael he has
it put together very well.He is very reliable.
Keep your chin up
Dick
This was another positive comment worth sharing,taken from the Care2 petiton website under the
“Save the Fraser Island Dingo” heading.
5:56 pm PDT, May 12, Sally Kilpatrick, Australia
I also grew up in Hervey Bay, with Fraser Island being our pride and joy. I worked in a backpacking hostel for a while, and one of the highlights of touring Fraser is seeing the dingoes. As an organisation we provided information regarding these wild animals, such as advising tourists to pack away food items properly, and not approach the dingoes etc… We never once had an issue with the animals. It breaks my heart to see the condition they are in. Fraser Island is the natural habitat of these wild animals. WE are invading them, not the other way around. How many species must we destroy before we are comfortable? These animals should be protected and respected. Instead, they are hunted and starving.
Dear Jennifer
Although our home is in Victoria we are well aware of what is happening at your end. Sadly it is a tragedy that plays out right across the world. As long as we allow the farmers federations in this world to dictate to our communities what our flora & fauna should look like the killing of wolves will not stop! Here in Victoria the dingo has been declared an “endangered species”. Unfortunately that is just a piece of paper. In the two years since the declaration nothing has changed in reality!
No official announcements are forthcomming, but we hear on the “grape vine” that farmers want special exemptions and the like which simply means that they will not “play ball”. We wait and hope, however I will not hold my breath!
As it stands, all we can do is to keep educating our fellow citizens of the crucial importance of our dingo in our unique ecology. To tell them that once the dingo is gone the bush will be dead!
We have three dingoes in our family and I walk them in public daily. They are great ambassadors for their wilder cousins and they have developed quite a following.
Although, we would much rather see dingoes in the wild than in captivity, there is no other way at present to keep the pure DNA alive.
On the upside, the situation affords us the opportunity to be part of a dingo pack which is both fascinating as well as rewarding and you tend to see nature in a more realistic way through there eyes!
In closing we thank you for your untiring efforts on behalf of the dingo and hope that somehow soon there will a solution found that will once again allow our top preditor to thrive in the hills and valleys of our sacred land.
Best Regards
Midori & Fred Mueller
This was taken from the Care2 petition website under the “Save the Fraser Island Dingo” heading.
I was very taken by this – so decided to share it around:-
5:31 pm PDT, May 12, Justine Oxley, Australia
I grew up in Hervey Bay and went on many family holidays to Fraser Island in our 4WD. Over the years we’ve noticed a dramatic decline in the number of Dingoes and changes in their behaviours. I witness two situations that broke my heart then and still do today. I saw a Dingo so emaciated bones were sticking out everywhere possible; it was so weak it barely had the energy to walk. Near Indian head I saw a ranger arrive in their 4WD and when they got out of the car the Dingo bolted into the bushes with its tail between its legs. The sight of the car and the uniform was enough to scare the Dingo into hiding. What are they doing to them that we don’t know about that provokes this kind of behaviour? Fraser Island is a World Heritage Listed Island. If we don’t protect the dominate predator on the island there will be severely detriment affects for the rest of the ecosystem. Take a look at Lady Elliot Island, every creature big or small, including sharks! are protected with the upmost respect. Because of this the island has regained its pristine state after years of mining and habitat destruction. I am only 21 and human ignorance is constnatly on my mind, continually chipping away at my faith in mankind. How can we not care about our planet, our home?
Hi Jennifer,
Just saw some of the news footage on YouTube. I cannot believe Kate Jones – Is she for real?????
When was the last time she went to Fraser Island???? I bet she hasn’t been there at all – and IF she
has I’m sure it was a quick 10 min visit with at least 10 “watchers and bodyguards”. Can you not
see when an animal looks so sick and obviously starving Ms. Jones????? We must have been watching two different footage’s, even I could see that dingo in the clip was starved to death – whether it was run over or not!!!!
Are you planning on playing the “I can’t see any problem’s here” game for ever?????
Wake up before you and your lot make the Fraser Island Dingo extinct!!!!
Shame on all of you!!!!!
Dear Jennifer,
Heard about the rally over the weekend. Just wanted to wish you all the very best of luck!!!
We are all behind you and support you 100%.
Also good luck with the court appearances next week too.
Hi Jennifer,
Can you send an email to the above address (my brother) so that I can return email some photos of Levi.
cheers
Rod
Hi Barry and thanks for your comments. It would seem that even cleaning up the beach is a major offence now – watch out KAB. unless you have a permit. queensland is indeed a law unto its own.
Dear Jen,
It is absolutely quite ridiculous & unbelievable this has even gone to trial at all!!!!!!!
Must congratulate you on the way you handled yourself on the day of your court hearing (March 24).
I watched with much concern the youtube footages I found. The media questions were answered very
clearly, calmly and well thought out…. I don’t know how I would handle answering questions like that,as if you were a career criminal trying to justify “Why” you were over on Fraser, and why you were taking photos and video of the dingoes.
I truly am passionate about the saftey & welfare of all animals & cannot understand why people
are freaking out and treating you like a common “thug” – or so called “interfering” with these
beautiful creatures when all you were doing was trying to make everyone aware that the dingo is dying.
There has been evidence that the so-called “carers” of the FI dingoes are:- fencing in, hazing, trapping, cruelly tagging & hunting these beautiful creature,s that were here first and have managed
to co-exist with the aborigines well before we came and stuffed things up!!!!!!!!!
Must be nice for the QLD DERM & Government to live in fairy-land with a “just leave things as they are” attitude!!!!! What else are they doing parliament – if not changing policies/laws to save an Australian animal.
Most of the tourist that come to the area want to see the dingo – but they will need to go to libraries soon to find out what they used to look like – unless some DRASTIC changes begin SOON!!!!!
There is a way that dingo and man and live together peacefully – with commonsense and a honest
view of looking out for/looking after the dingo!!!!!!!
Despite what most of the idiots are trying to convince you (& themselves) of, you have done nothing
wrong are we are all very proud of you!!!!!!! Well done for standing up and trying to help the poor
dingo when no-one else seems to care!!!!
Good luck with the rest of the court appearances Jen. You have a lot of support behind you!!!!!!!
Love B. Boz & family
Hi Jennifer,
its peter perna from your box hill computer course days.
it has been so long as by reading this site we have a lot to catch up on
please forward a way to contact you direct.
your long lost friend – peter
Unfortunately, as many of us have learned too late, Australia is not a country which truly supports freedom; we have no bill of rights, or other significant protections, as citizens. Even tourists have found themselves innocent victims of our ‘justice system’-eg Chika Honda. I suppose that this means that ‘clean up Australia day’ is technically either a subversive, criminal, or terrorist organisation now. Queensland has long held a reputation for injustice, though, I think, many of us believed that this ended with Sir Joh leaving politics. John Howard proved that, federally, illegal action by a government could still be an effective tool with his raid by para-militaries (effectively mercenaries) upon the Queensland dockworkers. It is sad that the government, or more to the point, a faction of the government has decided to target native wildlife now, as well as its citizens. Wishing you well.
Hello
I am a freelance reporter for a TV channel located IN LA
A friend has sent me details of what is going on for the dingoes at Fraser Island
We are a multi faith multi cultural community based non profit TV channel and free to air
We have a Stop Animal Cruelty program once a week on our TV which brings to light what is really going on for animals whether domestic or wildlife
If you would be interested in doing a story about the dingoes, please contact me on 0417 550 647 or send your phone number and I can contact you
Our TV channel covers many topics, one of the main ones being what is going on for our co inhabitants the animals
I hope to hear from you or send your contact details so I can call you
Yours sincerely
Penny Bassett-Scarfe
Supreme Master Television
http://www.SupremeMasterTV.com
OMG. Thats typical. Someone doing the right thing gets punished!!! Millions of people out there knowingly doing the WRONG thing,day in, day out seem to to just keep on doing it.. People with a GOOD, KIND, BIG heart pay, for some reason. Believe me i know. It seems the more of an upstanding citizen you are.. The more the the law will come down on YOU. Maybe we just make them look good… Not much work in catching us GOOD PEOPLE.
Makes you wonder what country we do live in??
I have been a strong believer in this cause for soo long now along with my mum. I sent her a newspaper clipping a few yrs ago and we said something HAS to be done.. But to no avail. We for some reason can not strike an interest. BUT if you where to put one of those dingoes in our BACK YARD…. Watch the uproar, the ” So Called ” Right people would be there straight away.. And the dogs would be restored to good health and re homed.. at ANY cost. Why not our dingo, it’s an animal. No, it is not stuck in a back yard, but stuck on a Human controlled Island which of whom are : Because of lack of knowledge,(or deliberatley) are taking away their food resources. So naturally we think they are dying of natural causes!!! Well Hellooo we are NOT ALL IDOITS. Remember what helped make this Island Popular!!!
When i visited as a kid the most commonly asked question was : ” Did you see a dingo??” Or ” Did you see a Brumby????” Did you get any photos?? The HIGHLIGHT was a dingo coming into camp and you just got a glimmer of an eye shine, or maybe, one was fishing early in the morning. If they spotted you, they where gone. TOO fat an full to bother you for bread crust!!!!!!!! SHAME SHAME SHAME.. IS all i can say to this BLOODY GOV. Get out from behind your desk and have a look at what you have created. Pull out you dictionary and look up the word : ECOLOGY You have wrecked the natural balance on F.I And here too where i live.
They bait religiously for ” FOXES ” that eat the turtle eggs. OK .
It is nothing to see 40 to 50 mobs of roos in 1 mob every say, 10 kms here. Is that normal to you? The decomposition takes for ever!! Because there is NO natural rubbish cleaners around to finish the cycle. NO 1080 does not just kill the ” FOXES” you are baiting. Try bush turkeys, goannas, PETS, crows, Dingoes. TO name a few.
I HATE 1080… I grew up on a cattle property and grew up with the like minded people.I know first hand what it is all about, And did what ever I could to stop this. I also watched 4 of my beloved pet dogs die a HORRIBLE death from it.. To you desk people.. Have you ever watched from go to whoa the process?? I can answer that for you, with 100% knowledge YOU HAVE NOT WITNESSED IT or you would not allow it. NO animal deserves to die a death that way. NONE.
Dingoes are not out to eat people. If you go to Africa do you find an 800kg Lion and throw it a ball of wool? Thinking it is a nice pussy cat??? Don’t think so,, Well, why try to approach a F.I Dingo???? Why is this soo obvious to me and everyone else on this page. I guess i just said it.. We are all on the SAME page ay?
I lost a beautiful ole mate a few years ago who use to be the lighthouse man there for MANY MANY years.(probably 50yrs ago) He also claimed to be part responsible for the wild brumbies. He run a fair few bullocks and said the dingoes where NEVER a problem to him or his stock. He even had one as a pet,Imagine that!!!!! And he lived there too. It never ate him.He said they were fat an shy.
People have to remember they where there first.. I strongly believe we need to live and move around our wild animals, if we are going to plonk ourselves in the middle of them. Not just kill them because because they do not fit in anymore. How bloody IGNORANT of humans, i am ashamed to think i am one, but LOVE the thought that i am NOTHING like this variety…
GOOD LUCK Jen, I am with you all the way and the crew, And the GREAT work you are doing. Do not for a minute let them make you loose sight.. I am now Very proudly on board and will do EVERYTHING i can to make my difference…
XXXX ILOVEDINGOESXXXXXXILOVEDINGOESXXXXXXXXXXILOVEDINDOESXXXXXXXXXXXILOVEDINGOESXXX
Why cant ALL restaurants, cafes, hotels etc reserve table scraps from FI & Hervey Bay to be collected daily and dumped on the far side of the island? (have you ever seen the waste???) Theses intelligent creatures will soon learn that, that is the ” FOOD” side of the island and would return to the bushland not having to TRY to scavenge off people!! They would learn again to be weary how they use to be when i use to go there as a kid.. My hand is UP to be a volunteer daily gatherer & driver.. I OWE these animals along with the ole brumbies of Ted’s for the HIGHLIGHT of my holiday some 15yrs ago..
I LOVE DINGOES
XXXXXXXSAVEXXXXXXXXXSAVEXXXXXXSAVEXXXXXXXSAVEXXXXXXXSAVEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX SAVE !!!!!!!!!!
Dear Jennifer,
Fantastic to know there are still hard working people like you, who are passionate and activated to stand up for what is clearly correct. We are having our own fight against the DERM regarding their plan to make Middle Percy Is. a National Park, against the wishes of the majority of users (cruising mariners) and us. They have deigned to offer us a small Conservation Lease (only for 20 years).We spent $200,000 WINNING THE ISLAND BACK FROM A CON-MAN,(with Rebel bikey connections and mentality) WHO STOLE IT FROM MY COUSIN ANDY MARTIN, AND THE DEPARTMENT (DNR) DID NOTHING TO HELP. THEY SAT BACK AND WATCHED THE WHOLE MESS, and loss of the subsistance livelyhood, saying they couldn’t help and it was up to us to get Civil COURT ACTION (WHICH DRAGGED ON FOR 7.5 YEARS) AND NOW ACT LIKE THE EPA ARE THE SAVIORS!! If it wasn’t for EPA being dictoial , none of this would have happened. It cost us a further $60,000 to re-establish living inthe Homestead and fix major deterioration , and a further huge input needed of time and money to get back to before that crook stuffed everyone up (and is still laughing at the system) .
Despite the Premier, Climate Change Minister saying in press release that the public are part ofthe disission making ; they clearly are not. We are attempting to get the DERM to follow the NCA 1992, for classification of the island as national park (recovery) which would provide a 3 year change over form existing lease(residential of whole island). That will ensure that the public are advised by newpaper what the DEM intentions are and give scope for feedback. At present they plan to skip all of that , and gazette the island as NP which’ll entail eradicating the ‘feral’goats; The cultural heritage value of those hardy little goats, is so important for future generations;- what if we can’t support cattle inaustralia any more with the climate changes forcasted? then those goat will be needed to fed the people the meat they so love.
Anyway, we aren’t as good as you on the publicity and writting; but are encouraged by your stalwart effort.
I will be writing to the governement to support you freedom to continue your quest.May the LORD protect and guide you, in your difficult times. Thank you for saving the turtles and shore-birds by your huge clean-up beach efforts. I love collecting rubbish, but have a long way to go to meet your collection piles!!
Regards Cate
The more I re -read this page the more chills I get up my back. Even in just trying to imagine what it would be like to be woken from a deep sleep to urgent violent banging on your front door, opening it and to be confronted by 5 people in Uniform waving a warrant in your face would be terrifying, then to have them invading your small home poking their unwanted noses into all your personal belongings and space.
It has to make us wonder what is the real agenda here to have your home RAIDED because you questioned the treatment of the dingoes on Fraser Island. I understand Jen used to see the Rangers on a daily basis when she 1st began going over there. They knew what she was doing and where she was going, so why suddenly after 7 years this attack on her ?
I don’t think any of us have any idea of the fear she must be going through when media releases say that your could be going to Jail or be fined $300,000.00 for trying to save the lives of starving and dying dingoes and their puppies.
This is supposed to be Australia, the land of the free. She is not a criminal and never will be.
I would like to mention that people like Dian Fossey ( from ” Gorilla’s in the mist ” movie ) Jane Goodall ( saves chimpazees) Malcolm Douglas ( crocodiles and dingoes ) Steve Irwin ( the same ) David Attenborough ( wildlife film maker ) all these people have done what Jen has done. Gone into the field of wildlife and recorded their wonderful experience of these animals on film to share with us.
Yet sadly on Fraser Island the gentle and elusive dingo has been tracked, trapped, hazed, eartagged, collared with adversary conditioning and eventually shot by the Rangers , who by their own RAMA are supposed to be the Guardians and Custodians of a protected species on a Heritage Listed Island. What hope does this becoming extinct rare dingo have if this keeps on ? It has the hope of people like Jen who will stand up for what they believe in, and gather people around like you who are reading this now, to join with her and say this treatment of the dingo must STOP IMMEDIATELY. There needs to be a better way to manage Fraser Island. Will you help her?
Hi Kevin and Janice
thank you for your words of encouragement. God is watching over this whole situation and He cares about the animals and the injustice being perpetrated here. lets hope that good wins out over evil, becasue the cruelty simply has to stop.
Dear Kerry
Their ‘expert input’ seems to be based on only one scientific document which was concerned with the way they ‘communicated’ about the management strategy, rather than the actual management practice itself. The rest is based on ranger ‘observations’ and the opinion of someone who made his living working for the dingo eradication movement.
I think the real experts are those who have lived long-term on the island with the dingoes, ie: the indigenous Butchulla people, who always have and continue to coexist with the dingoes on a personal level, and the other long-term residents. The Butchulla people always shared camp with dingoes, which were free to roam during the day but always came into camp at night for a feed and some company round the camp fire. This tradition continues.
Dingoes have always enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with humans.
And there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that feeding dingoes makes them aggressive. It does not take away their natural ability to hunt and it doesn’t reduce their instinctive desire to hunt. Sure, they are opportunists, but that doesn’t make them tame, domesticated, or habituated.
If people only knew how to react appropriately when a dingo approached them, there would be few if any incidents with adults. And if adults supervised their children appropriately, there would be few if any incidents with children.
There is certainly NOT a problem with overpopulation on the island. No official figures have been published, but at least one PhD researcher believes that there are only 7 packs of dingoes on the island. If a pack comprises a family, ie alpha male and female, plus perhaps one surviving pup from the previous year that becomes an alloparental helper during whelping etc, then the average pack comprises 3 individuals. 3 x 7 = 21. That’s not a lot of dingoes. When pups are whelped obviously the numbers increase by 5-7 per pack, but mortality is up to 100%.
So the problem is taking away food sources that have been available for many years, denying dingoes access to the beaches to scavenge for carrion and fish, preventing fishermen from leaving any fish around for them to scavenge whatsoever, closing off access to camp sites which used to have signage saying ‘throw your food scraps into the bush for the dingoes’, closing rubbish tips, removing brumbies, and of course, burning off massive portions of land and wiping out all the small animals that dingoes would otherwise feed from.
I also agree that all culling has to stop immediately.
I urge you to send your comments to Glen Elmes, Shadow Minister for the Environment, who is currently working on a new management strategy.
Glen can be contacted at:
PO Box 1849 Noosaville Q 4566 Ph 5449 8988 Fax 5449 9719 http://www.glenelmes.com
Hi Noeleen
Great to hear from you. I completely agree with your quote. I think the world would breathe a sigh of relief if the human species wiped itself out. Thank you so much for your letter of support
Hi Estella,
Thank you so much for your letter of support. It is always great to meet someone else who loves dingoes. As you know they are not the dreadful killing machines everyone makes them out to be. They are the most loyal animal ever I think. If you are really able to help, you could check out the videos on you-tube (if you are able) and please leave a comment. Also pass the links to the videos on to your friends.
Also we have an official Save Fraser Island Group which is Incorporated, and is non-profit, and we work full time to save the dingoes on the Island. If you would like to join, it is only $5 for regular membership or $10 for voting rights. You can contact the secretary Karin by e-mail at mkrail@bigpond.net.au
Good morning Jen. My friend Dingo Simon has been keeping me updated over the years on both his and your work with the Dingos. It seems appalling that they can be treated the way they are on Fraser Island and it’s legal. You are a courageous woman and I applaud you with your unfailing commitment to this cause. A recent quote I’ve seen “Only until all of mankind lives in harmony with nature can we truly decree ourselves to be an intelligent species”. Good luck in your continued efforts to educate.
Hi there, feel very moved at what’s been happening with you & the Fraser Island Dingoes. I own a dingo & am amazed everyday at her
love, intelligence & racaliness & feel very sad that so many beautiful dingoes are suffering because of the governments greed & alterier motives…(‘scuse spelling, couldn’t find alterier in the dic but i hope you know what i’m trying to say), & i think that’s it, they have alterier motives for the Island & they don’t intend it to be dingo friendly. Not sure what i can do to help but i’m feeling ‘fired up’, i reckon Fraser Island should be given
over to the dingoes & no tourists allowed … i’d rather support happy dingoes in their natural environment than feel the need to have to disrupt their
lifestyle by intruding. I bet a lot more Aussies would feel the same too if they really knew what was going on. Keep up the good work jennifer, you might feel alone sometimes but we are with you in spirit. Love Estella & furry friends
I don’t know the exact details, but a ranger was sacked recently from Fraser Island for feeding the dingoes.
The dingoes were starving.
Should we accept Fiona Leverington’s (QPWS) promotion of the ‘Don’t feed the dingoes, let them starve’ policy.
Andrea Leverington says this policy was prepared with “expert input.” Andrea Leverington, as director QPWS, is not an expert. She previously was a teacher’s wife at Childers with a temporary job at QPWS.
Dingoes are still starving.
There should be a debate within QPWS on this nonpolicy of ‘Not feeding dingoes’. Dingoes are starving. They are starving either because
1) There are too many dingoes on Fraser Island
or
2) There is not enough natural food in the Fraser Island ecosystem to support the existing dingo population.
Obviously ‘not feeding the dingoes’ is not a long term solution. The dingoes will attack humans (campers, residents) out of desperation. IN the 1980s, three options for dingo (and other similar large predator management) were continually being debated:
1) Feed them
2) Cull based on serious scientific evidence, not knee jerk reactions to ‘dangerous’ individuals)
3) Move (to zoos etc)
4) Combinations of above.
The ‘Don’t Feed the Dingoes’ policy is a know-nothing, do-nothing solution.
Dingoes were brought to Australia by the Aborigines as hunting dogs. Dingoes have lived both wild and semi-domesticated ever since. Hence it is natural for dingoes to seek out humans when the dingoes are hungry. Banning the feeding of dingoes will not stop dingoes haunting campsites/refuse disposal sites etc in hope of finding food.
Also, the more intensively used/populated is a natural environment, the more hands-on management is required.
Fraser Island has passed the point where a ‘look no hands’ nonpolicy is adequate to manage the ecosystem there. Dingoes are part of that ecosystem. Leaving them to starve is not good enough.
There are precedents for more hands-on management of Fraser Island dingoes. In Lapland, reindeer live ‘wild’ from spring to autumn. In winter they are held in domesticated conditions – mostly by being feed at designated stations by the Laplanders. It has not impaired the reindeer’s ability to survive in the wild the other three seasons. Likewise in Germany, swans live ‘wild’ in the parks from spring to autumn.In winter they are taken by barge to winter quarters where they are given food and shelter.
Another example: “The bald ibis needs humans to show it where to fly in order to mate” by Bernhard Warner Guardian Weekly 25/4/08 “[The bald ibis is] one of Europe’s most precarious bird species [with a] team of researchers trying to increase their numbers. If they are to survive, the Waldrapp ibises, also known as northern bald ibises, need more human assistance than the average bird. In the wild there remains just one large colony, of about 350 birds, on the Moroccan coast. They are on the World Conservation Union’s ‘red list’ of threatened species. If they [the birds] don’t take flight in the first autumn of their life, they are usually settled into a sedentary existence. And even the mobile ones are far from fleet. When they are motivated to take flight, they need almost ideal conditions to get anywhere. Early attempts to study their southerly migratory patterns were a disaster says Fritz [one of the researchers] ‘We had reports of them showing up in the Netherlands, Poland. One made it as far as St Petersburg’. Key to the reintroduction [of the birds] in Europe is teaching a dozen or so young ibises to follow the near 1000km route their ancestors may have taken. They flew alongside microlight aircraft navigated by Fritz and his team… Despite the delays, a cost overrun of a few thousand euros… and the fact that the majority of the ibises watched the migratory route from the back of a van, the Waldrapp team regards last year’s migration as a success.”
Why not manage Fraser Island dingoes in a similar fashion?
Now is the time for change, since the two Queensland government departments are merging, calling itself DERM. QPWS is now part of DERM. I would like to see DERM set up a web page/chat room/blog to debate the dingo policy at Fraser Island. There must be change. There must be public discussion and debate on this topic, not simply “expert input.”
Thankyou Jennifer Parkhurst for keeping the issue alive.
Dear Jennifer,
Praying for you……Zephaniah 3:17
Dear Jennifer,
if we had more people in this world that were as passionate about things as you are, this world would be a much better place.
never stop fighting for the Dingoes
Glenn C
Sarah
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments and for taking the time to read through the website. You are totally correct, the play behavior being misinterpreted is very sad. everyone misses out with this sort of attitude, especially the dingoes which are being killed for merely wanting to engage us in play.
i very much appreciate your support. i am about to upload some links to You-Tube videos which will firther highlight the plight of these beautiful creatures. please take the time to look at them if you can and make a comment, and pass the links on to your friends,
Kind regards,
Jennifer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cR1EtbNiNs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPnIZtgvCaQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehX8LwCrWqE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_nHinnQ5eM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-JXrpVkCkQ
Jen,
From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for putting together this very informative web site, and for your major contribution to preserving the Fraser Island Dingoes. I have learned so much from reading your essays, and I found myself sobbing uncontrollably after wards…..because of the way the Dingoes are being treated, and also because of how you have been persecuted for studying them and caring about them. What’s wrong with Australians? I can’t believe we have just one last habitat for this pure strain of Dingoes- which is world heritage listed- and QLD parks and wild-life’s answer to `managing’ them is to murder as many of them as possible and deprive them of food via their fences. Its so very, very shameful, stupid, and cruel.
My partner and I have visited the kingfisher bay area on Fraser island 1-2 times annually since 2004. We therefore remember special times when you could see dingoes sleeping peacefully around the resort during the day, or passing you shyly on a walking track, and the playful pups turning up at the jetty each year at sunset, wowing the tourists with their funny antics. But the attitudes of those managing the Dingoes have changed so much in only a few years. Where they used to be regarded as harmless native dogs to be respected, Dingoes are now presented as `dangerous villians’. So although they still have the ability to wow the tourists, we also saw sad incidents such as tourists throwing things at them, young boys waving sticks and yelling at them, and `panic’ behaviour when they came near. And these were only puppies. Its a whole different vibe there now….so sad and unnecessary.
During our most recent visit, we were told that over 160 dingoes had been killed in the Kingfisher bay area during the past 2 years…so I guess that every single dingo we ever saw and photographed there is now dead. I cried when I heard the news.
I can totally understand why you care so much, and I’m just speechless reading about how the government has treated you…like Raiding your home, destroying your work and personal items. I hate this friggin government for doing that to you….someone whose `crime’ is possessing basic empathy as well as a committment to actually helping these beauitful animals (which is supposed to be what THEY do, isn’t it?)
I just hope you know you are not alone in your outrage, and your care. You are a true Hero, Jen. I admire you more than anyone I know, and you have my utmost respect.
Best wishes always,
Sarah
Hi , my name is Mark Thornquest.
I represent a satellite internet television Station http://www.SupremeMasterTV.com
Based in Los Angeles, broadcasting free to air 24/7 across 14 platforms all over the world.
Our program format support a modern lifestyle that is green ,healthy, and compassionate.
We would love to do a story On Saving the dingoes, especially those on Fraser Island.
In doing so, giving the story worlwide exposure.
Looking forward to your reply.
Mark Thornquest
Jen
Well done girlie, that’s want I wanted to see.
I actually love your site for a Greenie
Brumbyy
Hi Jennifer,
My name is Katie Cincotta and I’m a freelance journalist for Dogs Life magazine.
I’m writing a story about the plight of the Australian Dingo and was both shocked and riveted by your own story, and what is happening on Fraser Island.
Would you be willing to chat to me by phone for this story?
I’m on deadline to file next Wednesday 4 November.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Katie Cincotta
Hi Jennifer,
I think your webpages look magnificent. Congratulations.
I have sent a letter to the Newspapers in all states and the Fraser island Courier will publish it this week. Below for your perusal.
IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE.
Another dingo killed on Fraser Island – in a ‘Sanctuary’, a place that is WORLD HERITAGE listed and ‘supposed’ to be protecting dingoes.
When is there going to be some commonsense and accountability on the side of human beings?
Dingoes are supposed to be protected! 82 Dingoes killed since 2001 from a population of 140 in total on the entire Island. These figures come from DERMS registrar.
Minister Jones is so out of touch here. A Dingo dies and a media release from Ms Jones declares these animals are the best protected animals anywhere in the world. Who is this woman kidding? Obviously a fan of Hans Christian Anderson and the ‘Emperor’s New Clothes Story!’ Glad these people are not in Africa. There would be no lions left alive! Rangers supposed to be the carers of this Icon – run around with traps, gings and syringes to exterminate these animals they are assigned to protect. Isn’t that a contradiction in terms?
What does it take for Australians to wake up and demand
‘NO More Dingoes KILLED! Federal Minister for Environment, Peter Garrett is vocal about the Japanese killing whales, but hypocritically he is silent on the ‘dingo topic’ and this animal needs protection, is on our turf and also should be given priority before it joins the ranks of the thylacine due to ignorance – of the same mind set – that hasn’t changed in decades by the idiots in power, who should have a complete reshuffle and change in the way they think – from ‘lets kill the pest’ to ‘lets protect and save these creatures’. DINGOES ARE AS IMPORTANT AS WHALES!
The dingo gene pool is being destroyed by this constant eradication. Get the parents of their children to be ‘good parents and take some control and responsibility’ – its their duty. Otherwise don’t visit the island – as they jeopardies the very existence of this Australian treasure.
Time for the Aussie population to wake up – a very loud ‘Oi Oi Oi’ is required to get this apathy removed and have some commonsense introduced to save the Dingo from extinction on Fraser Island and all across the mainland..
Did you know the Dingo is by ALL Definition Australian Wildlife and has no Universal Protection in ever state of the land? Every other wildlife is protected. This is a NATIONAL DISGRACE. Where the Dingo is granted a pretend ‘protection’ – they are killed when ever gings, traps, bullets, syringes or 1080 baits reach the animal.
Dingoes are the very guardians of our future! Where they have been exterminated across mainland Australia there is a massive problem with Fox, Goat, Cat and Pig numbers out of control. This is FACT not fiction. Australia and New Zealand are the last two major countries on the planet allowing the 1080 Industry to rule with mighty force and kill everything – if secondary poisoning is taken into the equation.
Ignorance to this eco-vandalism has continued because – from the governing bodies like the department of environment which appears by action to be linked to a powerful farmers lobby which strongly align and support this genocide and ‘billion dollar business’ distributing propaganda which is clearly incorrect in their continuation of baiting even non pastoral locations – such as desert and wilderness zones. This 1080 Arial baiting desecrates the dingo population. Once the Dingo is eradicated in these places, this action destroys the vulnerable population numbers of Bilby, Bandicoot and other endangered wildlife the Dingo protects as ‘LION KING’. The Cat and Fox population takes over once the Dingo is removed.
When all the world has banned this Nazi created concoction 1080,- the one question that should be asked is WHY ARE WE STILL USING IT?
The Graf brothers released ‘Poisoning Paradise’ 3 week’s ago in New Zealand. Displaying for ‘all and sundry’ the dreadful results that have occurred by this dangerous compound being used. 1080 is the dingoes biggest killer.
Defoliation is a very important aspect in Australia as the land is in danger of drying up and the Dingo keeps the kangaroo numbers balanced. Scientists are saying loud and clear PROTECT YOUR DINGO – it is the top land predator – ‘OUR WOLF’, which holds all in equilibrium and balance. Don’t add the dingo to Australia’s already disgraceful world record on mammal extinctions!
Wake up Aussies before it is too late. Write and demand action now of our politicians which earn their over paid salaries by being made accountable and doing the work they are allocated and assigned to do in their portfolio!
For further information on the plight of the Dingo view http://www.wadingo.com
Jennifer, would you be so kind as to highlight our effort and course of action by placing our Webpages on your Webpages? We in turn will put your link on our sight. We gain thousands of hits weekly and this is a great good for the dingo.
I love the dingo and you also love these animals by your action which is evident.
best wishes,
Nic