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.
I am profoundly uplifted by this piece. It is a rare thing to read such powerful journalism.
I salute Frank Robson. And I am proud to have Jennifer as a friend.
Dear Jennifer,
I just read the SMH newspaper article emailed by SFID. The whole debacle is
just so completely SAD. I can’t stop crying with a huge flow of compassion
for these beautiful innocent creatures and also for your horrible
treatment. It just breaks my heart over and over. Why? what has been
produced by what amounts to revenge, both against the dingoes and yourself.
Where does cruelty end? I send you a warm holding hug and let you now how I
can’t help but share in the grief. I hope there is some light for you. Even
the recent gains in management approach don’t by any stretch, in my heart
anyway, mitigate the harm done and the losses. Kind regards Janét.
Excellent, a very in-depth expose of the real truth.
Trevor
the comments made in the article by Prof Kaplan are very important as she is an ethologist which makes her an expert on animal behaviour and what she says is exactly the same as what Jennifer has said about the current FIDMS’s on the dingoes’ behaviour
dear jennifer, you are such a fine, fine person. it is impossible to understand why some people have to have such hard lives, but i admire greatly your capacity to continue to be human in the midst of all the inhumanity of the killing, defaming, starving, punishing, hideous, stupid, ignorant actions you and dingoes have been forced to endure. i am sure that gisela is right (she pretty much always is) – the cruelty forces dingoes to behave differently, and everything that could be peaceful and quietly convivial becomes full of fear and terrible death. you are a real hero dear jennifer, and i’m glad there is good solid recognition of that fact, with love, debbie.
It is so frustrating to read the FIDMS Review do much is just not understood about the dingo’s behaviour so why doesnt the Government make the most of Jen’s expertise even Dr Lee Allen said it was a pleasure to read Jen’s work which was taken from her through the raid SO why not put egos aside and confer with her Lee Allen’s opinion was made public during the gut wrenching court case!! Save Fraser Island Dingoes Inc.
I believe Jennifer was used as a a scapegoat for the Labor Government’s poor implementation of the FIDMS, their frantic uneducated and inexperienced attempts to “control” the dingoes during escalated invasion by tourists. As far as I can see when the FIDMS were tabled in 2001 many of the recommendations were never followed. Lets hope the new FIDMS and implementation bring something better. If it werent for Jennifer and SFID the treatment by derm and lives of the dingoes on Fraser may never have been challenged and hopefully changed. I hope QPWS appoint somebody with experience to educate the rangers, Dingo Simon and Ray Revill for a start, and Jen herself. Its time for QPWS to own up to their ways and move forward with a fresh start, and accept what is on offer to help them.
Its a shameless act by different authorities who seem to have no clue as to what they have done, or should be doing. The exorbitant penalty imposed is absolutely beyond comprehension and why was it allowed to continue, who’s pulling the strings on the magistrate. Better to have well fed Dingo’s than starving ones, and if they interact with society then good for that too. Why wasn’t something done by the legal profession as to the penalty, and a redress of the outcome raised, or are the legal fraternity so spineless to face up to a political system which seems to be corrupted by its own desire for power outcomes and authorities that have no real value as to what is desirable for a sustainable environment but money outcomes. Its about time something was done to rectify the situation legally.
Dear Editors The Age Sydney Morning Herald
Re Good Weekend 13 April 2013 The Dingo Woman
THANK YOU for publishing this amazing story ‘The Dingo Woman’
Frank Robson’s story proves beyond doubt that Jennifer Parkhurst should NOT have been fined $40,000, for feeding starving dingoes.
DERM / Minister Andrew Powell share a responsibility to void what remains of her fine and rescind the black mark on her good name.
We are horrified about this travesty of Justice against an innocent person.
How would any of us like it, if this happened to you?
Please help Jennifer Parkhurst get her life back!
Maryland Wilson President Australian Wildlife Protection Council
Dearest Jennifer,
This is an absolutely EXCELLENT article and one that has been a long time coming.
You are a special angel walking amongst mankind and obviously found your calling on this planet. Your love of these beautiful animals will eventually win through, I am sure it has to.
I can relate to exactly how you feel towards animals and the horror of what man is capable of, I too am an old soul, who doesn’t want to be here, although I have to be, as I too have been sent here to do what I need to do regarding saving macropods, so you aren’t alone in your disappointment with mankind and their absolute ignorance to what we deem as simply common sense. It is a lonely existence when compared to ‘normal’ people isn’t it. We prefer to be with animals than humans.
With sincere love and respect,
Lynda
Jennifer – I wept on reading today’s SMH “Good”Weekend article. I love dogs and horses. My son Billy as a youth at weekends looked after the dingoes at Waratah Park, Sydney, he said they were lovely, beautiful dogs. He also looked after “Skippy” (there were 12 of them over time) and we knew their vet/trainer for the films. What can I say except my heart bleeds for you and the dingoes. With those politicians and bureaucrats I would never set foot in Queensland. I hope you receive this message.
Dear Jen
We in AWPC are ecstatic about this amazing fortunate forward for YOU
and all who are appalled at your shocking plight due to petty jealousies and rural Australian contempt for this top predator,
such as that exists in Queensland who still live in colonial Times… and are blind to anything but their narrow world
May Justice prevail!!!
dear jennifer, thanks so much for sendign this interview link. the more i learn about dingoes, the more i udnerstand why the ‘powers that be’ don’t want to expose these truthfiul stories. no one could refuse to care about dingoes after hearing this lovely interview, thanks . debbie
This is fantastic interview Jennifer, thanks for sending it to me – I will send it to all my friends
We are so happy that you are the President of NDPRP – congratulations!!!!!!!!
A Question of Balance is a very interesting and informative environmental show good that you were interviewed on it
love and all the best, Barbara xox
Dear Jen,
I am so elated from the recent achievements to care for the beautiful dingos, … such a monumental achievement, … A time of extreme well being and oneness with all creation in the face of all suffering and pain you have and do experience Jen … and for all the good souls you and the dingos have inspired
So here & now it is great that you have such passion for that which you do and the dingoes, … and have the freedom to be able to choose your environment of beaches, rainforests, in company with your beloved dingoes, … take it easy and enjoy it at a pleasurable pace Jen … You have fulfilled full measure your God given role, … now it is the time you can meander on beaches and rainforests, finish your books … a rich time Dear Jen …
Vickie,
Thank you for your fantastic letter, possibly the nicest letter I have received in a long time. You must be a very beautiful person yourself, to have so much empathy for both me and the animals.
I love the thought that all my animal friends will be waiting for me one day, and I can’t wait to see them again. Each and every one of them has meant the world to me. Thank you for understanding how awful it has been, first to see them suffer and die, and then to go through the ordeal of the raid and prosecution.
At least we have made a difference, and whether or not the new government actually goes through with the recommendations by Eocsure, we will know that we forced them into it. There is a lot to be said for people power, and without supporters like you this wouldn’t have happened either.
I suspect we will have to keep fighting for change, and keep the government and DERM on their toes. Let’s hope that not too many dingoes suffer in the mean time. I think more dingoes were killed this year than any other!
Thanks once again for your letter and your support, it really has made my day.
Warm regards
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer
What a fabulous woman you are!
Without you, this review would probably never have happened. I hope you are feeling so proud of what you have achieved! You started the momentum.
You are truly an angel sent from heaven.
Had you have helped a minority group of people you would have been labelled a saint, but because it was ‘only animals’…the system didn’t understand….
I’m sorry that life for you is not great since that dreadful court case.
I’m sure I will never know how disempowered you must feel.
I really believe that we meet up with our animal friends when we die so imagine the party they will host for you!
Good luck Jennifer.
Kind regards
Vickie
Hi There. I am trying to get photographs of some Badtjala people from the 1930′s for a documentary film. Do you have any on this site and how could we get permission to use them? My email address is griffin248@hotmail.com if there is anyone that can help!
Hello Jen,
has Kenny recorded his Didge playing? We are in short supply of original Indigenous music and when SFID has fund raising and awareness days it would be great to promote those who are supporting the cause.
Hi Jennifer
I have just started exploring your site after picking up a card at the sausage sizzle yesterday. I have recently relocated from Melbourne and Fraser Island was one of the key drivers in doing so. I first visited the island 28 years ago and one of the greatest memories I have was leaving the barge from Inskip and within a couple of minutes seeing a healthy dingo and a brumby within 50 metres of each other on the beach. What a joy. I am fortunate to have seen that!
Move forward 15 years, another trip, and camping at Lake McKenzie. No shortage of dingoes but no brumbies. It was during this trip that I realised that one day I would live in the Bay.
Before moving up here I took my wife to the island 12 months ago, full of stories about the place and and in particular the dingoes. How depressing to arrive at the lake and find we had to lunch inside an electrified fence area. The beach? Having to put fish carcasses in rubbish bins! We saw one dingo over two days. I won’t say we were lucky to do so because it was upsetting to see a starving animal trying to scratch a feed out from something on the beach.
I have read that there are only about 100 – 120 0f these beautiful animals left on the Island. What has happened? I am writing this in tears, this fact has made me quite emotional. I would like yo know more and besides donating what I can do to help.
I travelled to the Island with my boyfriend for the first time last week and spent 4 nights there. I read the Fraser Island Atlas and guide whilst we were on the Island and couldn’t help but feel a sense of overwhelming guilt for having visited the Island myself, as beautiful as it was. I had no idea what it was like before I arrived, and no idea how I would feel coming away from the experience. The story of what happened to the aboriginal people on the island was horrific and barbaric, and I feel like the government are now doing the same thing to the dingoes.
I enjoyed my time on the Island and it really is breathtaking. There was a very spiritual presence on the island that I haven’t felt anywhere else in Australia.The strongest feeling that I had however, was a sense of guilt to be in a place that I felt belonged to the wildlife and the land. The strange irony of driving a 4wd through such a place immediately struck me. All I could think of was how I felt as a child watching Fern Gully, and how wrong it was to see people driving down a beach at over 80kph and french backpackers puffing away on cigarettes at lake McKenzie.
The main thing that I have come away from the island feeling is an overwhelming fear for the continued existence of the Fraser dingoes. On our last day on the island, heading down to the barge, we saw a mother and a young pup playing happily together on the beach and frolicking in the sand. The sight mesmerised me and brought me to tears. I want my children to experience the incredible beauty of Australia’s wildlife, and the extremely rare beauty of the dingo. I want people to realise that when they travel to the island, they are traveling to the home of the dingo. They are on someone else’s territory. To me, the Island still belongs to the Butchulla people and the native animals that inhabit it. It was a privilege for us to go there, not a right.
OMG, THIS IS SO SAD More Dingo deaths. These poor little pups what hope do they have with tourism escalating ? WE must continue lobbying for a wildlife Care Centre on Island, surely vets would volunteer on a roster system. Is there a vet on the Island? There must be I’m assuming. So sorry to hear this, how many times can a heart break?
Hi , just some info on how rangers on Fraser feel about wildlife, i found a
young
turtle washed up on the beach due to to heavy seas , i took it up to eurong
ranger
station and the ranger told me to ” Chuck it back in ” ?????????
Regards
David
G’day Jennifer,
A genuine congratulations on your AWPC Conservationist of the Year Award. Well earned and well deserved. The recognition that comes with this Award is rightfully yours and well over due. Congratulations. No-one deserves it more.
I have subscribed to an SFID You Tube page and recently saw a video showing the fires on Fraser Island, a sad story about your boy ‘H’ and I litteraly cried for you as you sat with Pepper. Thankyou very much for this video. It is an education and eye opener I feel that many people need to see. I know it has opened my eyes.
Again my congratulations and thanks to you.
I am not one for Christmas but wish you all the very best for the New Year.
Kindest of Regards,
Joe Emanuele
Another point to consider. For all of us who have taken a new 6 – 8 maybe even 12 week old puppy into our family embrace know and understand that our new family member is just, a puppy and will be for a good two years. We accept the fact that he/she is a puppy and we also accept and understand all of it’s puppy traits. Perhaps a step by step video recording of the progressive changes, developments, curiosity and life experiences our puppy goes through till it reaches maturity could be recorded and compared to the life changes, developments and curiosity that a dingo puppy goes through then presented to DERM and QPWS.
Perhaps this will give these Government agencies the education they are so sorely in need of. Perhaps this will help the agencies see that what they are murdering in many circumstances are just puppies, yet to experience a full life. Perhaps they will open their eyes and see the similarities portrayed by all babies, human or animal.
After all, we don’t kill our family members ( puppies ) for being what they are do we?
We don’t kill our human babies for testing the waters of life.
Winky, Inky and Byron. Killed for what? A Qld Gov and QPWS deceptive excuse? One would think that the faceless powers that be are hell bent on driving this beautiful animal to extinction. There are laws in place that allow DERM and QPWS to punish us for any act of cruelty, interference or murder of our native and precious wildlife. Where are the laws that punish them for cruelty, fine them for interference and convict them of murder? So many acts of cruelty and countless murders and the hands of QPWS and DERM.
The Qld Gov, DERM and QPWS are continuously in breach of these laws and publicly flaunt the fact that they are quite obviously exempt from them. What are they really protecting, our wildlife or themselves? We all know the answer to that one.
What lengths must we ( the people ) go to in order to have our Government hear us, listen to us and for once in their selfish careers listen to us.
My heartfelt congratulations and gratitude for your tireless, dedicated and magnificent work to help dingoes. I would dearly love to purchase 200 cards for Christmas that has beautiful photos of the Fraser Is dingoes on the front, and tells of their plight on the back. Do you have such cards, or know where I could obtain?
Warmest wishes,
Cheryl (Forrest-Smith)
To all who share our love for our Australian native wildlife!
After considering what has been happening on Fraser, be it in the recent
past or present, with regards to the dingo, you can’t dismiss the likeliness
that there is some yet to be understood conspiracy at work! WHY are the powers to be so clearly determent to rid the Island of our native wolf?
Certainly, the supposedly “dangerous” behaviour of the dingo is just a cruel and silly smoke-screen, believed only by those who live under a rock! I repeat, dingo behaviour has nothing to do with what takes place on Fraser!
Queensland now have a different Government and yet the same basic policy and yet more ridiculous excuses!
My best guess is that some well-heeled developer(s) is/are “greasing” the palms
of politicians and public servants handsomely!
That is WHO makes the bullets
“low-light” Belcher is firing!
That is WHO keeps a sordid individual
like Belcher in the job.
I stress yet again, you wonder what role the RSPCA plays in this genocide! I particularly refer to the Necropsy report, published in March 2010, attesting to unspeakable cruelty inflicted on a dingo under DERM management!
Yes! The dingo is in the way of “progress” big time, any other hypothesis just does not make sense, after all this is supposed to be a world heritage site for heaven’s sake!
Only thing that would bring the real “goings-on” to light would be a public or royal
inquiry, fat chance for that to happen! I might add, should anyone try to get such a inquiry going you do well to remember what happened to Ms Jennifer Parkhurst!
Only chance for the unique Fraser Island dingoes’ survival would be to legally transfer as many breeding pairs as possible off the Island into responsible care as far away from Queensland as possible!
Short of this dramatic action, the Fraser dingo
is rapidly heading the way of the thylacine!
GONE, together with another thirty (30) species since the arrival of white
man and our corrupt way of life!
end
Hi Jennifer, I don’t have your email address anymore and I really wanted to congratulate you on your recent award. It makes a mockery out of what DERM, Labor and the courts did to you.
I emailed Ted Sorenson again about all of that and asked that my email be sent to the new attorney general. What happened to you still bothers me greatly and I see it as something that really needs to be corrected.
Enjoy your award it could not have gone to a more deserving person.
Hope all is well.
Kindest Regards
Gary Crockett
jennifer,hope you received my email regarding using the cd, ” the dingoes are howlin”
at any of the events you hold, for the fraser is dingoes, feel free to do what ever you want to do with it .if it will help to raise some money for you and the cause.
sorry for not getting back to you the last time ,had break down .
so all the best jennifer.
regards BOB williams.
jennifer .
just wondering if you received the cd ” the dingos are howlin” sent to the address at
tin can bay you gave me? and what you think of the song.
regards, bob williams.
Hi Jennifer, I knew you’d bounce back.
Great to see your Vanishing Icon book.
Banjo is having the time of his life (5 years old now, and in his prime)
Will the new Premier see the light?
All the best
Chris
Hi Jennifer, yesterday 21st June 2012 you gave a talk at National Seniors Noosa I attended and was brought to tears when I heard what was happening to the dingos on Fraser Island, I can not believe in this day and age we are treating these animals with such cruilty, if the government dont want them on fraser island why dont they move them to somewhere else. These animals cant speak for themselfs so we have to speak for them. They have every right to be here and they beautiful creatures. What can I do to help ?. Kind Regards Margaret.
Hi Jennifer
What a monumental revelation! So the evidence is undeniable a dingo killed the Chamberlain’s little daughter! My, my, my, who would have thought it possible? (Sarcasm)
The laws of our land are clearly designed by idiots on the assumption that all of us are idiots too! Anyone thinking that the farcical case against you dear lady was an exception, better think again!
There was never any doubt in my mind about the outcome of the Chamberlain case. I don’t know why we had this enquiry; the result was decided even before the embarrassing event began! No doubt the naughty PREDATOR in question, who was never really seen or indeed detained, will have the right to appeal! No?! Really???
I hope that now the family can sleep easier at night, after all the parents are totally innocent! How shallow and naïve is that!
Leaving a baby in a tent unsupervised by parents in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by all sorts of possible hazards does not constitute a case of failed duty of care?
Can we now assume that when a child drowns in a backyard pool it is the pool that is convicted and not the child’s guardian? When a child suffocates in a locked car in 40 degree heat whilst the carer is busy elsewhere, is the car going to be charged and convicted?
Assuming the report in the Age newspaper is correct, Mrs Chamberlain stated in an interview that now all of Australia should accept that the dingo attacks and kills unprovoked or words to that effect. Is it possible that this individual is seeking employment as a ranger with Derm?!
Once again the establishment has embarked on “shafting” our apex predator, our Aussie wolf!
Have they succeeded? Never!
Kind Regards
AM
I love this comment by Judi Dench on the David Shepherd web site
“On behalf of all our children, thank you for sharing my concern. Wildlife does matter, and together we can make the difference for them between life and death. ” quote by Dame Judi Dench.
You know you are among those well respected and revered conservationist for caring about an animal that is persecuted. I know they will thank you.
Having challenged the indemic and insidious bureaucrtic machine ourselves, we viewed Australian Story’on the ABC this evening with a considerable degree of understanding for Jennifer and her plight. While I’m sure Jen would admit – with the benefit of hindsight she would probably do things a little differently – in the world of attempting to make a genuine difference, one sometimes has to push the boundaries around whats necessary. She is certainly guilty of that. The overwhelming challenge in that quest however, is the inordinate power, control, and indeed, the personally driven agendas of the mostly mean-spirited bureaucrats and people in postions of influence who because of their own inadequacies, insecurities, and ignorance focus predominently on shooting the messenger – and on blaming punishing and discrediting those who are seen to threaten their power and authority. What a pity there could not be a collaboration from all for the common good of the animals rather than that of those who are attempting to save face and assert their authority. Sadly – when the focus becomes the actor rather than the act, commonsense and decency no longer prevails. More power to you Jen. Although you may seem powerless in your efforts, be assured in the fact that – ‘Evil triumphs when good people do nothing’.
Paul & Jacqui Herring
Does anyone remember what happened to Dian Fossey from Gorilla’s in the Mist? She was killed by poachers for protecting the silver back gorilla.
Jane Goodall ( Australian woman) put her life on the line to save baby chimpanzees being killed by poachers.
Steve Irwin died in his efforts to teach us about wildlife.
Bob Irwin carries on bravely always asking for our help.
Malcolm Douglas showed us life in the top end, he has died too.
All we have left at the moment is Jennifer Parkhurst. She is trying to stop the bad Rangers from killing off our dingo and this Qld Govt.did their best to stalk, harass and now slander her because she has put her life on the line to stop this genocide. From little things , big things grow.
There is now a huge public sentiment growing, that is absolutely disgusted in DERM’s treatment of Fraser Island Dingo, yet DERM go out of their way to save the Cassowary, dugong, loggerhead turtle and the Koala. This is the right thing to do. There are less than 100 dingoes left on the Island, that means they are endangered and within a few years they could be extinct.
We as wildlife carers and conservationists must do all we can and get behind Jen. We must encourage communication with the Govt and seek the advice of Independent dingo experts and scientists to plan a better way of managing the cohabitation of the tourist and the dingo. The last 20 years of management have failed. Clinton Gage’s death by a starving dingo, multiple incidents with starving dingoes and tourists and QPWS removed nearly 60% of the dingoes food source and we are told their Management Strategy Plan is working. I let you be the judge.
I commend and support the work Jennifer Parkhurst has done and is doing to expose the plight of the dingoes on Fraser Island. Jennifer is right the dingoes should be fed away from the people as the Cassowary are in the rainforest and Yellow Stone National Park. The dingoes as well suffer the loss of habitat as they are excluded from a big part of Fraser Island and it is obvious from the photographs that they are starving as a result of it. I fully agree with Jennifer that the survival of the dingoes on Fraser Island is of paramount importance, not only for Fraser Island’s tourism but more importantly for the preservation of Australia’s biodiversity and Aboriginal People’s culture. Therefore the laws and the present management strategy are wrong and have to change. I believe that if this current management strategy continues then the dingoes on Fraser Island will become extinct.
The Park is not managed as National Park should be. It is obvious from the management strategy, this interview, Australian Story and most importantly from Jennifer’s photos and her book where she documents the dingoes behavior as territorial pack, that the rangers killing of the aggressive dingoes and ad hock culling disrupts their culture – to my mind the rangers cannot produce any scientific evidence to counter Jennifer’s findings and to show that what they do is not detrimental to the future ability of the dingoes to survive. In fact, the management strategy admits that its management is “the application of incomplete knowledge” and, because the dingoes population is small and closed, so if and when their acquisition of the complete knowledge will be finaly achieved, it will be too late for the dingoes. (Jennifer’s research on the pack is supported by Brad Purcell’s research in Blue Mountains he points out that “as soon as you disrupted the culture you create a very volatile state for the population and then you do not know what they will do “A study in Queensland found that when random dingo baiting occurred, paradoxically, livestock predation increased (Catalyst 4-6-2009))
Barbara
I watched the repeat of Australia Story yesterday and was shocked at the content, I am an animal lover and especially of Australian wild life. As so many of our dingoes are mating with wild dogs thus making lots of the dingoes cross breeds, Frazer Island dingoes are the only true breed of dingo, we should be going out of our way to preserve them, not kill them. Everyone has regretted the loss of so many of our native animals in the past, this is 2011 when we are supposed to know more and yet there is every chance that these wonderful creatures will become extinct in the not too distant future, all that is needed is the right form of management so that that they do not starve, well fed animals are not likely to attack humans etc.
Valerie Palangas
I’m with Jennifer, the dingoes on Fraser are unique & purest in the country, the Yogi bears couldn’t manage a chook raffle.Personally, I think they regret doing what they have done because it has revealed how incompedent DERM is.Everyone knows dingoes have interacted with man since they were introduced to this country approx. 5,000 yrs ago.I’m absolutely disgusted in the way DERM have treated Jennifer.
Wayne Gawthorne
I don’t think that anyone is saying that feeding the animals is ok Martin. What your [edit] essay fails to acknowledge is that the Fraser isl dingo is bring persecuted for the mighty tourist dollar so if your interset is in conservation perhaps you don’t realize that the animals are being starved and shot so that tourists can drive up and down the dunes bath in the creeks and lakes (yesthats using soap etc) urinate and defecate in the sand (yes without the benefit of sanitation) so it’s not because they are cute and cuddly it’s because they are not given due respect. Even the traditional landowners wishes are being ignored.
Libby
to pay off her over exagerated fine, i suggest jennifer should take an approach *gasp* comerialy! via her artwork, photographs and documented research. selling possibly in other wildlife support areas, and potentially national geographic stores who sell australian icons and symbols.
make it happen jennifer you have many supporters
jade
Why don’t the Parks & Wildlife rangers organise to round up some rabbits and kangaroos that are eating their way through grazing land in Queensland and relocate them to Fraser Island as a sustainable food source for the dingoes? Their answer to all problems seems to be cull, cull, cull. And in this day and age of electronic monitoring, surely they could do better than the ear tags they’re presently using on the dingoes? If there was a sustainable food source for the dingoes, they wouldn’t then see people as a possible food source in their starving stage. This whole situation is a total disgrace to Australia.
instead of the government and the rangers crucifying Jennifer, they should honour her for the work that she is doing, she is our Jane Goodall, what Jane did for the Mountain gorillas,Jennifer is doing for the Dingo population on Fraser! it is about time that rangers who are employed to protect wildlife do so, instead of killing the endangered wildlife in favour of tourism. The government has it all wrong as usual..I just watched Jennifer on Australian Story and it made me sick to see these poor dingoes starving,and noone seems to care. Why should tourism be more important that the welfare of animals. Please rearrange your priorities,where is the RSPCA when we need them,surely their code is to protect all animals, isn’t that what is says on their TV commercial. We are all on your side Jennifer,keep protecting the dingoes. These rangers should loose their job for cruelty to wild animals. Ziggy
I love the way you have shown what is involved when you do your paintings. Most people would not know how to go about it.
It must be so satisfying to see the results from a blank canvas to an almost life like dingo.
Has anyone told you how gifted and talented you are ?
Well maybe more should.
Maybe more people will make a unique investment and buy one of your paintings.
I am looking forward to seeing your new dot paintings.
POISONING THE POINT
You can’t hang a sign on poisoned bait “XBred Ferals Only – Others Keep Off!” Poison is indiscriminate, cruel and pernicious. Put it into the food chain and watch it run. This we are learning to our cost in many areas, just ask the Gladstone fishing fleet.
Using poison in places like Inskip Point is to go right against the principles of care and conservation on which our precious National Parks and Reserves were founded. Downright shameful.
The very thought is toxic.
ATTACK FIGURES SHOCKING
Every year 14,000 people out of 100,000 attacked will need hospital treatment and 1,400 will be hospitalised as a result of dog attacks. Domestic dogs that is. Shocking? Sure is.
By contrast the Chamberlains’ counsel tells us that people would be shocked if they knew the figures for attacks by dingoes, emphasizing Fraser Island. Let’s see.
During the eleven years he quoted since 2001, 98 allegedly “dangerous” dingo attacks are cited. This equates to fewer than 10 per year. Some 500,000 people visited the Island last year so only 0.002% have a negative experience. Of this tiny proportion only a very few required medical treatment. Scale up the figures to 11 years for domestic dogs and you begin to see things in perspective.
Regarding fatalities = Dingoes 1 ever proven, Domestic dogs from 1979 to September 2010, 34 proven. Enough said?
No one could dispute that the disappearance of baby Azaria was traumatic and tragic. But how can we ever be 100% certain of her fate?
One thing we can be certain of is that no Fraser Island dingo had any part in it.
LS
This wonderful website of Jennifer’s is a credit to her selfless work and passion for the dingoes of Fraser Island, proving her, intelligence, years of studying the dingoes and her knowledge with her ethical morality. Compared with DERM’s attitude on the
Fraser Island – is it a WORLD HERITAGE SITE or a ” GOLD COAST” ADVENTURE PARK ? Is this what DERM are creating?
The Courier Mail has printed an article “Parks to lure investors” 30th.Nov.2011. Stating that an ECO Resort prospectuses had been prepared for Eurong on Fraser Island owned by Tourism Leisure Corporation Inc. Incongruously (TLC) is now aproved!.
The incredibly, hypercritical, statement that vicky Darling makes “Protecting the natural values and the beauty of our national parks was the No.1 priority”, ignoring fact that this is a Government World Heritage listed Island and the rare dingoes are protected as the only pure strain breed left.
On their website (Dept of Sustainability,Environment, Water, Population and Communities) proudly states that “Since 1974 , they have taken a leadership role in promoting the World Heritage Convention objectives and set high standards in meeting their Commitments” is without substance or truth their management of F.I. As we now know is a failure. Their website give out “pretty rosy” statements, that looks good on paper but is without reality. World Heritage Sites are defined as being of “such outstanding Universal value that their conservation is important for current and Future generations” is in complete conflict with the push to promote more tourists than the 50,000 that go there each year and is pushing the dingoes and the Island to a critical level.
Minister Vicky Darling has received thousands of letters protesting and was given a 7,162 Signature petition requesting for better management, which was received with a …. Seven Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Two Times…NO!” .
For Minister V.Darling to speak of “protecting natural values as being a No 1 concern” rings extremely hollow.
Last year Fraser Island had some 400,000 visitors enjoying Barbie’s, picnics, snacks and hotel meals.
Meanwhile the iconic dingoes, cut off from their food sources, hunting grounds fenced off, beaches off limits, prevented from scavenging, starve and spiral towards extinction. DERM insist that they are helping the dingoes to lead a “natural life”, FOI autopsy reports tell a different tale.
On their website it all looks glowing, with their statements:- “Fraser Island dingoes are part of the island ecology, and are protected by law” Yes indeed protected by law….. it is the law?
It must be Environment in all its’ aspects first, People very firmly second.
Otherwise we just end up with Sterile Adventure Parks, and we’ve surely got enough of those.
The dingoes do what they must in their own environment to survive and continue their species. When Nature takes a swipe at us is entirely without malice aforethought.
Revenge and reprisals are futile; we might as well blame the ocean for drowning’s. ..Accept responsibility. Respect Nature. Learn her lessons ..
This is the dingoes ancient home, they can’t move on they live on Island?
Their survival is of national importance. Problems with dingoes on Fraser Island are man made.Jennifer has been fighting for justice for the dingoes, and she needs justice for herself, their stories are twin stories, both are about a great injustice committed here in Australia.
The DERM website says so.
Marie-Louise Tewantin.
A whistleblower who paid an enormous price.
Re: your article on the 27thJan.2012. By Des Houghton, regarding the “Culture of Fear of holding back Whistleblower’s”
Is so true. A gentle, quiet spoken, articulate woman paid an enormous price for whistleblowing on the demise and cruel conditions of the Fraser Island dingoes. Most of us have heard of Jennifer Parkhurst, many of us are not aware at the terrible cost to her life as a result of following her conscience and her humanity, seeing F.I. Dingoes and puppies slowly and painfully die from starvation. Where is the justice, with this obscenity? Jennifer Parkhurst has had her life stolen; her life’s memories and over 6 years of her work, cleaved from her unjustly because QPWS, & DERM, were so afraid of the truth about the state of the Fraser Island Dingo’s management being exposed and she was becoming a problem to them as she publicly exposed the number of puppies dying, 90% mortality rate and the starvation which she knew was putting the continuation of the survival of the F.I. Dingoes at dire risk of extinction.. She was fined an exorbitant $40,000, and a nine month prison sentence suspended for three years. Other people, who had fed dingoes, were only fined between a $100 to $2,500 with no convictions or prison sentences. These people more than likely fed the dingoes because they were also disturbed at their condition and what ethical human being can ignore a starving animal, apparently the rangers can? Jennifer Parkhurst whistleblew on DERM and the QPWS rangers because of her conscience, believing as a passionate environmentalist and conservationist, something had to be done to save these Australian animals with cruel experimental practices committed on them under the guise of a management plan.
Over 13 months Jennifer was subjected to persecution unheard of in Australia. Hers is the worst case of a whistleblower being targeted and her life made a living hell. Their bullying tactics, trying to keep her quiet, as she has exposed a scare campaign on the dingoes, these dingoes that have been as persecuted as Jennifer has. It is only her passion and love for these diminishing dingoes that has kept her going and brought her an enormous following, admiration and support from Wildlife organisations to scientific experts and professionals who abhor the wanton destruction of a world heritage iconic species as these rare dingoes are, and who, are an Australian heritage that is been stolen from us.
There are many questions on the legality of Jennifer’s conviction that still needs asking?
Jennifer is the Australian Dian Fossey, Jane Goodall and Diana and David Sheldrick, her 7 years spent on the Island studying and observing the dingoes and her knowledge and expertise is unsurpassed. Marie-Louise Tewantin.
In 6 mins time it will be 2012. The New Year for all of us. It will be the beginning of the Turning Point for our dingoes. See you then Miss DJ.
There will never be a wildlife care centre on Fraser- it would interfere with the extermination of the native dingoes. In 1-2 yrs time they will all be gone. And another unique australian animal will be added to the list of extinctions caused by the australian government and the ignorant public.I know that sounds defeatist but the fact is that there is not enough genetic diversity left on the Island- The dingoes of Fraser are already technically extinct. The last remnants just haven’t been destroyed yet. It is breaking my heart to write this, but too many people think it will be OK, it won’t. In January I am going to Fraser to say goodbye, and ask for forgiveness – we tried -but we couldn’t save you- the government had already decided your fate, you interfered with their tourist plans.I will remember with joy my trips in the past, when I saw you living free and happy, hearing your song of welcome. But I will not be back, this will be my last visit to Fraser.Without dingoes Fraser is just a island full of tourists-it’s heart be be dead.
The insufferable arrogance of human beings to think that Nature was made solely for their benefit, as if it was conceivable that the sun had been set afire merely to ripen men’s apples and head their cabbages. ~Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac, États et empires de la lune, 1656
Ted Sorensen MP has been amongst the few to officially stand up for you, not to mention saying what he thinks to the media without backing away……despie all theri b&^*%$
He genuinely seems to also care about the environment and or course Fraser Island and the dingoes……. could you pass on my respect and best wishes to Ted?
Hi Jennifer,
I saw your “Australian Story” earlier this year and couldn’t believe my eyes. I think the work you’re doing is amazing and so important, but why can’t I find Fraser Island Footprints, Save Fraser Island Dingoes Inc or SFID Inc on Facebook? I had no idea even that the purebred dingo was endangered until I saw that programme – more people need to get on board with this, why not utilise facebook as a medium? It reaches so many people in Australia and worldwide, y’know?
Anyway that’s my two cents’ worth. Your paintings, photos, and videos are breathtaking. Thanks for working so hard to save such a beautiful animal.
Much love,
Ella
I took my staff for a well deserved annual retreat to Fraser Island from the 9th to 11th of December 2011. My organisation works with children, young people and families at risk and works 24/7 with this retreat being my huge thank you for their dedication to community. The whole experience was so beautiful until we saw a young female dingo (tagged yellow in the ear) that was emaciated and roaming among the tour and private four wheel drive vehicles at Eli Creek desperate for food. She was quite young and obviously living off of her own muscle tissue as no fat was left to draw from. She ate orange peel which was scary and a desperate measure for survival but we were told by the tour guide that it is natural for dingoes, they are naturally thin. As a person that has worked with animals for over 30 years of my life, I am not so naive as to believe that hip bones strongly protruding and ribs showing are natural for any animal unless malnourished. The fact that this young female dingo was so desperate for food to wonder amongst humans to scavenge was horrifying to me and my staff of 20. We have decided through this experience to share our sadness with others and to ask why a controlled feeding program is not available, especially inlight of the controlled fires that got out of hand seeing natural food sources depleted. Our tour guide advised that dingoes love to eat coconut and said that they drive over them to crush them for the dingoes to eat, I am not an expert and would never question logic, but coconuts? Please correct me if I am wrong as I am new to this but not new to animal care and conservation. I understand the debate of nature and natural evolution but I believe that there has been previous human interference that cannot see the whole nature situation work here. We have already interfered from the feeding to see no waste costs for resorts to the culling from the results to the loss of natural food sources through controlled burns gone wrong to the need to see tourism flourish and protecting humans that do not respect the environment or monitor their children of which is all at the dingoes expense. We are human, we stuff up, lets try to make that right and hold on to the wonders that we have, and the Fraser Island Dingo is one of them. I work with young people at risk and 90% of those that I am so privileged to work with are over 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and families per year that are keen to start a petition and ask the questions of how we are going to look after our Fraser Island Dingoes? We are also keen to seek the support and guidance of Butchulla Elders to guide the young ones that are concerned about the dingoes and know that the Elders are the voice of knowledge, reason and guidance.
Dear Jennifer,
What can I do to help the Dingoes? They are obviously starving even though the Govt.authorities deny this.
In August I was on the Kingfisher Resort side of the Island for a day and attended a NPW talk in the resort where they painted a positive picture of the Dingoes life and said they are a “naturally thin” dog.
I do not believe this propaganda for a minute and I had a good walk around the bush and could not see any evidence of any natural food source on the Island. No animal droppings at all.
They did say they die early from all the sand ingested, which gives them Sand Colic. Probably the shellfish they eat whilst foraging on the beach, to try and stay alive.
An old timer told me that Dingoes were taken to FI by Aboriginals to help hunt the Brumbies. Parks and Wildlife took the Brumbies off the Island because they were not “natives” so taking away a major food source for the Dingoes.
Watching them eat water melon skin I can see they are starving.
They need to set up food stations to stop them starving.
They need a breeding program.
They could re-locate them to a sanctuary on the mainland.
They could introduce small Wallabies and other Wildlife for food.
They are doing nothing except ear tagging,weighing them down with dangerous huge tracking collars, setting alight the forest with out of control “controlled burning”, harrassment, shooting etc. etc. Also fining you and harrassing you to try and intimidate you to keep quiet.
That picture of the Dingo with a gun to its head just broke my heart. It looked utterly beaten down and knew what was coming.
I don’t think the Govt. has any ideas or even cares a toss. What can I do to help?
Keep up the fight.
Cheers, Janine Goddard
Hello Jennifer
I have just purchased your book as a gift for a friend who lives in Scotland so hopefully this will help spread the word internationally. I grew up at Mt Julian (near Proserpine) and spent much time at my late grandmothers home at Mount Marlow (also near Proserpine). The dingoes lived in the hills and I remember hearing them howling at night. I was never afraid of them. Probably because one of my late great aunties had one as a pet. She lived in Proserpine – everybody knew and no-one complained – maybe DERM did not exist then:-) I now live in Cooloola and have seen the dingoes on Fraser. I get mad when I hear that one of these dogs have been put down. And it infuriates me when a father threatens to be a vigilante when his child has been bitten. And before someone starts jumping up and down please do not get me wrong. I understand the protective nature of parents and no-one wants to see a child harmed. But prevention is better then cure. When we visit Fraser we are in the dingoes environment – it is the visitors responsibility to educate themselves and to look after their children. Read and heed the signs!! Maybe signs need to be placed at the barge entry and exit at both Inskip and Fraser so that there is absolutely no excuse. Equally I am totally amazed that island administrators resent you being there. There is absolutely no doubt that dingoes equal tourism on Fraser and isn’t the Queensland Government screaming out for that?? Finally I support you 100% and congratulate you on your hard work<3
Hi Jennifer
Another festive season is fast approaching, bringing with it a brand New Year. I hope that you, your family and all your staunch supporters have an outstanding Christmas and a brilliant New Year! We sincerely believe that 2012 will only bring the very best, excellent health and peace for you! In spite of my rage I also hope that the many detractors of our all important apex predator the dingo will have a year of good health and happiness. I pray that they will finally come to realise and accept the crucial importance of our “Aussie wolf” in our unique ecology! My special New Year’s wish (dream)
is that Fraser Island will be handed back to our indigenous people without reservation pronto!
It is already over a year ago since one of the more hideous injustices in modern times in this country has been perpetrated against you and the dingo, dear Jennifer. The consequent “Public Lynching” portrays a level of nepotism to date unheard of in Australia, even in Queensland! Again, we are so sorry for your struggle and we salute you for your courage and your endless love for the dingo!
Our dingo-pack had a busy year of introducing themselves to the population at large. We visited many venues, answered thousends of questions and collected many signatures for a number of petitions. At times it has been mind numbing and stressful but our boys and girls always presented themselves with great dignity and profound respectability. I just wish we would stop over analysing the species though! It may be well meant but many of the “new revelations” about the dingo produced are truly nothing short of anecdotal crap and do absolutely nothing to help the species to survive in the wild! I believe honestly that we need to start to get more focussed on what is really important. We seem to accept that a wolf is a wolf. Why can’t we accept that a dingo is a dingo? It is impossible to mistake a pure dingo with any dog species alive! It is the same difference between a wolf and a modern dog. As for their origin, why not refer to the indiginous teaching and accept what you hear! This is of course purely my personal view and not intended to hurt anyone’s feeling.
To one and all MERRY CHRISTMAS AND THE HAPPIEST NEW YEAR!
> Your respect of a Dingo community’s lifestyle and needs will in turn
> protect yours!
>
> Thank you for the opportunity to participate
>
> Maxine Pitts
> Yungaburra
> Far North Queensland
Hi Jennifer
We hope that you are well and monumentally happy!
I have just received your media release on the Fraser Island fires. Thought I toss in my two bob’s worth! It is simply devastating on whatever scale you want to measure it by! We educate parents to keep matches and lighters away from toddlers and yet we seem to hand these sorts of implements to incompetent, supposedly “grown up” individuals! There is no such thing as “fire getting out of control” in any event! NO! These disasters are always the result of total mismanagement and appalingly poor judgement by the relevant Government department. These incidents are not confined to Fraser Island either. Right around Australia thousands of hectares are destroyed along with any living creature caught up in them annually. On many occassions it is unbelievable that the so called authorities even consider; let alone go ahead to start a back-burn given the highly unfavourable atmospheric conditions existing at the time! The only conclusion I am able to draw from these various incidences is that the standard of education and procedures in these departments is at best intolerably poor! As it is, again we have to pick ourselves up from the ashes and try to make the best of a decidedly “crappy” situation, made worse by the knowledge that it will invariably happen again in due course!
On a happier note we attended a dog show in Sunbury last weekend on behalf of the ADF to make the “doggy” people aware of our Aussie wolves’ plight and to collect signatures for our petition for the Federal Government to protect our dingo on the National EPBC Act.
Apparently this is the biggest “one day” dogshow in Victoria, go figure!
Our dingoes created a lot of interest and visitors were amazed how calm and dignified maliki dealt with all the fuss and “yapping” going on all around them. As always the dingo is a credit to himself! As well as providing dingo-awareness we collected in excess of 500 hundred signatures. It was a tiring day for our dingo-pack but well worth doing.
They absolutely enjoyed the extra large dried pigs ear in the evening!
Power to the DINGO!
Kind Regards
A. Mueller
Your vindication will be sharing with the world of your intimate knowledge of FI Dingoes and thereby refuting all the propaganda that DERM has spitefully sprouted.
Once important people with influence out there are affected positively by your presentations, they will be able to take this knowledge to the next levels.
And also just as importantly to get the right people in the media on side , to print and show the truth.
Once the Govt has been exposed for their corruption in dingo management they will probably realise that they messed with the wrong girl.
Sadly all this has come at great cost to your health, mentally, physically and emotionally. It just isn’t fair.
But on the bright side, you have met many special people, galvanised the humanity of others to fight for the dingoes.
Mind you, all on your own.
You didn’t need a PhD to do all this, you have your wonderful heart and compassion for all that breathes.
So , anyone who is fortunate to get close to your private inner circle, should feel very privileged.
That includes me
I have just finished the book “Living with the Dingo” by Adam O`Neill – it contains some good information – he is against aerial baiting and also supports dingoes role as the top predator and necessary for the preservation of the native animals – what interested me is that he says on p 50 that “The advantage of tracking, as opposed to radio collar monitoring, is that you get to see what the fox has been up to” – it applies to observation of dingoes or any other animal – and you have been doing this on FI for years – your information about dingoes is therefore very important – yet DERM persecuted you for doing just that – to me your work with dingoes is like Jane Goodall’s chimpanzees
It was both an honour and a personal pleasure to meet Jen in person and be present for one of her presentations. She is certainly an exceptional woman. And such a talented wildlife photographer!
I belong to a number of wildlife groups (Ones willing to support the dingo) and none is more active and efficient than SFID. I am ever impressed with the persistence and clear-speaking that the group represents. I find it heartwrenching that mercy and compassion are so difficult to apply to the suffering on Fraser Island. It is shameful.
“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.
You are his life, his love, his leader.
He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.” Unknown
Yet again an example of DERM and their park rangers’ complete lack of empathy for the wildlife on Fraser Island.
After a dead turtle was washed onto the shore, eyewitnesses were shocked to see park rangers arrive with a bobcat and bury it deep beneath the sand, away from scavenging animals which rely on this food source to survive.
This turtle would have fed many, from the smallest of crabs to the largest of dingoes.
This account follows directly on the heels of a listener to the ABC morning radio show with Annie Gaffney, calling to express their concerns when a dead baby whale they witnessed on the beach, mysteriously disappeared.
That’s two vital life sources for the island creatures being removed.
This is tampering with the balance of the natural ecosystem of the island in the highest form, one creature’s death, although tragic, can benefit a wide range of insects, animals and birds.
With an island this size, food sources are already scarce, and this blatant act of cruelty and neglect can have devastating repercussions through the entire island’s fauna.
Maxine McGregor
Visitors to Fraser Island were saddened to see a dead turtle washed up on the beach; however they were gladdened at the idea that this poor creature would feed the native wildlife.
Imagine their disgust and horror when park rangers arrived to measure the turtle, and then bring in a bobcat to bury it deep in the sand.
This turtle could have fed many others; dingoes, goannas and carrion birds to name a few.
This is the natural circle of life!
My question to anyone who can answer is this; why does anybody have the right to take a God given gift to the wildlife and bury it so deep that no creature can benefit from this sumptuous meal?
Maxine Jacobsen
Hi Jennifer,
First I want to apologise for my email being a bit chaotic, but there are so many things on my mind now after talking to you and watching your presentation in Sydney last Saturday.
It was a very emotional to me when I talk to you and listen to you; it brought all my memories about dingo once I had long time ago. Still remember sweetness, dedication and a lot of love I received from my little dingo I really loved that dog like a human.
I couldn’t imagine people could be so cruel to animals and specially officers from national parks (always had impression that their role is to protect native animals).
I am back at work and still have images of those beautiful animals suffering and thinking how to end it and create a good sustainable environment for them to live in harmony with humans.
One of my thoughts was to start a big campaign with the major point that those dingos on Fraser Island are very important Australian Icon, there is no other place anywhere in the world to hold such a pure bread of dingo and it is the duty of our generation to preserve it.
Another thought is to get somebody famous involved in the campaign, like for example famous french actor Brigitte Bardot did to preserve wolves in Europe.
Another way would be to put some ads on internet about cruelty of people to our native animals showing tagging, describe the cruel procedures etc, and get international support to pressure Australian Government.
I had friends from uni times who live in USA, France, Sweden and Germany and will try to get them involved.
Actually the friend from US also had a dingo in Poland it was his girlfriend’s mother who worked in the zoo and gave them to us.
I really want to help you to change the lives of dingos and understand you passion, I want to do whatever is needed to help. Please let me know how I can help, I want to be involved.
There was not enough time to talk more with you when we have met; there are so many things I would like to ask you. I have called Joan trying to find out if I can meet you, but she told me that you are based in Queensland and went back home.
Are you coming to Sydney often? I really would like talk to you face in face without rush. Also I would like to visit Frazer Island and see dingos, can you give me some guidance.
George
I am at the grand age 70 years of age and only lately becoming informed of the plight of the Dingoes.
I was reading some of the so called controlling method of this national heritage=Tagging how many people has seen this hunk of tracking devise hung around the dingoes neck I would like to see the person who places these monstrosities on the poor animal wear one for a week and see how he goes.
The killing of juveniles the philistines did this not Christians.
Fencing of feeding areas and electric fencing and electric girds COME ON what are you people is this answer to over populating
THIS IS A NATIONAL TREASHURE YOU ARE TORTURING
I ONLY HOPE THIS DOES REACH SOMEONE WITH A LITTLE COMMON SENCE
CARE FOR THE DINGO BEFOUR IT IS TO LATE.
YOURS TRULY D mason
The state government agencies running the island are responsible for this debacle, by allowing, dubiously “necessary” burning off, particularly at peak tourist times. If you want to complain get onto our local state members who can take it to the relevant government departments and ask for answers. After all Fraser Island falls into the electorates of both Ted Sorensen and Chris Foley. The damage to the tourist industry as well as the efects on the fragile environment and wildlife of this “World Heritage Area”, added to the pollution spewing across the region is nothing short of a national disgrace. Many other countries, even some we consider “third world” have better management practices and control of their unique natural areas than Queensland does.
After spending hundreds of dollars for a family of five to go whale-watching in the first week of the school holidays not only was the whole trip plagued with thick fog but also dense black smoke from the burn-offs on Frazer Island.
It was impossible to see any part of Frazer Island in the distance (during both departure and upon returning) and many of the tourists on board were left questioning just why any council would allow such an action to threaten their tourism industry during such a prime-time holiday period.
It left the captain of the vessel open to explanation which was, “what other council in their right mind would burn-off during whale migration period and peak holiday season?”
Madness really!!! Council, you are threatening the very reason tourists are coming to Hervey Bay – as well as their lives!!!
Here is proof that DERM does not necessarily act appropriately for the benefit of for the island environment. Given this, then are they acting appropriately in the management of the dingoes??? Every year around school holiday time, the fires are lit. Why not light the fires during winter before the winds pick up and tourist numbers pick up?
Isn’t it so sad and reckless that once again we have the managers of DERM showing no respect to the Island or it’s visitors? For approximately 5 years in a row uncontrolled fires have been lit on the Island, It destroys so much, not only making the fragile Island look like a wasted moonscape but affects so many Tourists costing the Island $100’000′s in revenue. The Idiots who are managing the Island should be named and sacked for their destructive actions.
But lighting fires in school holidays and during a period where it is always windy at this time of year is absolutely insane.
Why isn’t the media asking Terry Harper, Andrea Leverington or Ross Belcher for answers ?
With idiots like this looking after Fraser Island, it’s lucky Hervey Bay sees any tourists at all. Who in their right mind would do an (un)controlled burn off during school holidays, let alone burning anything with the winds that were forecast and happened. Don’t these people look at the forecast for a day or two ahead before they light the place up. Not only was Fraser Island inundated with fire and smoke, but Hervey Bay itself was smoked out as well.
Mayor Mick, I hope you are doing something about this. Some strong words need to be spoken regarding this debacle. The tax payers of Hervey Bay spend millions of tax dollars to get tourists to the area and 2 or 3 idiots can undo all the work and money spent, in one afternoon. Unbelievable!
most of the tourists interviewed won’t be back, and they will tell many others to avoid the area as well, it is really quite pathetic that this could happen.
Hi Libby,
Well said. there are plenty of people that agree with you. It’s a shame that UNESCO doesnt take more notice of what happens in these World Heritage Sites and to their so-called ‘natural resources’.
I see the intellectually challenged parks & wildlife rangers have decided that if they can’t shoot or starve enough dingoes they’ll just set the place on fire-that might finish the job. Should be fined & sacked but lets see what happens…probably nothing-it hasn’t in the past hast it?
Dear Prime Minister,
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy birthday, we share the same birth year and I hope the same sentiments.
I heard you saying you are getting a puppy for your birthday, congratulations, I like you, have no human children, but I have my two lovely canine kids and my horse.
I would like you to take a moment to consider the dingo puppies on Fraser Island and their parents.
Due to mismanagement by DERM these beautiful creatures are starving and suffering, not the way a nation, committed to the care of their pets, should be treating a national icon.
Take note of this quote by Gandhi, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
Definite food for thought wouldn’t you say?
Please PM Gillard, rise above the usual puppet politicians, and make a stand now, before these precious animals become extinct, you owe it for future generations.
Yours Sincerely,
Maxine McGregor
and another thing. a message to the government. you guys don’t really care cause most of you have been there long enough to pick up the perks when your turfed out
grab a few more overseas trips and woop it up bit cause time now is a ticking
I just watched dogs of war again yesterday and when i watched the dingo bite at that little girl i realised that it was just showing her affection and being loving. my dingoes do it all the time. you could see by the look on the dingos face that he didnt like being chastised and didnt understand why he was being told off for being loving.
Dear Jen,
The inspiration starts with you Jen, … on many levels, … what a rich life, … even though pain usually goes with it, …. Big picture I feel is that the beautiful dingoes are on the path towards being more protected though there is still the hard core iniquity to contend with … as in DERM and the Fraser Island Association, … I couldn’t think of a more effective and calm representative of the God force than Mal, … reminds me of Martin Luther King’s wisdom … Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence and toughness multiples toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr“
Always I have felt that evil does not win in the final outcome
Inspiration given to us all in many ways is your role, … Malcolm in his Gandhi ways, … Karen in her tenacity for what is right, … Simon in his nonstop loyalty and consistent persistence, … and all the many other devoted beings in SFID is a huge and beautiful example of the power of the God force … bound to prevail triumphant eventually, … what a wonderful journey to experience in one’s lifetime, … it is an inspiration even for me simply of being there wholeheartedly in spirit.
Thank you!! Jen
Much Love
God Bless
from Ray
Thank you so much for your care and concern. How can any thinking person not understand that when someone or something is starving that they will resort to almost any measure to get something to eat. Reduce the pollies to a state of starvation and see what lengths they would go to. As the adds for a favourite chocolate bar show “you are not yourself when you are hungry” For goodness sake don’t the so called leaders have any brains at all!?? Thank you for your continued efforts and I look forward to helping where I can.
Hi jen i’ve been reading about you on face book and dont worry i can see what is really going on. there is a massive conspiracy against you becasue you dared to enter the political arena. you couldnt help it i suppose becasue the issue is political. it is a government reaction or i should say overreaction to the fact that they know they caused what happened in 2001. they are protecting themselves at any cost.
keep fighting girl there are many supporters behind you by the looks of it. truth will win out. Jack.
Am writing to state my complete disgust at your written letter by Steve Brisky which is so blatantly biased to DERM its embarrassing to read in the media of so call reporting?
It is known by “intelligent ” people, that the Clinton Gage tragedy had many factors and none of those at all to do with Jennifer Parkhurst.. DERM know’s that they have created a nightmare of mismanagement that puts at risk both tourist and dingoes. Parents MUST be responsible for their children’s welfare. These pure bred famous Dingoes are iconic indigenous animals and have coexisted comfortably with man on Fraser for four thousand years right up until DERM took over responsibility. Would we go to an African Game Reserve and behave in the way that some tourists do on Fraser? And if we did would it be the wild animals who were made to suffer for it? I think not.
According to a renowned dingo researcher the state government’s harsh treatment of the island’s dwindling dog packs has brought them to the edge of extinction.The detailed studies and records collected by Jennifer Parkhurst have exposed the dingoes’ plight. Things like starvation, poor survival of pups, inhumane treatment of dogs through tagging and culling methods, and hassling by visitors must be addressed immediately to save these animals from impending extinction.
Jennifer Parkhurst started her studies on Fraser Island, , two years after a Clinton Gage had died ,so how could Jennifer have had any part in that terrible event?
The dingoes constantly being tagged, demonized, brutalized and confronted daily by tourists who shriek and scream at the sight of them, blind Freddy can see that this will create a problem!
You were the ‘Patsy’, they are guilty of the abuse of the Dingo, on a massive sand island without food. The dingo is a beautiful animal with little dangerous tendency, how do I know, I have personally also worked with these incredible canines, a prodigy of the Malaysian Area, you are the real treasure here, the criminals are the park rangers and those who prosecuted you to COVER UP their own miss Management of the Island and its precious wildlife – the Dingo.
Hi WWF……well its been tuff watching the negative activity occurring daily on our beautiful K’Gari…..it also distresses me, What you read, see in the media is NOT TRUTH.
Jen I have directed my guests to your site to experience and access the K’Gari Wongari CD…which I play on every trip.
Have seen more ecidnas in the last month than in the whole history I have had with K’Gari
young dingoes….clueless teenagers, without teachers…..why would young animals achieve alpha and at only 10-22mths old…because there is no competition!!!! the animal has been domesticated via the management DERM, culling the dominant animals, leaving only the subordinate animals to rise to the occasion of alpha.
…we have to I believe introduce some more stock…dominant mature animals….and random drop food…only at puppy time and high season tourism
Missing you
Love always your fellow WWF
Hi there Jennifer
Have not heard much news from Fraser Island lately. I am not sure whether that is good or bad?
Down here in Vic the Dingo discovery centre(Toolern Vale) organised an event in Melbourne with the aim to have the dingo listed in the EPCB act as a native fauna species in it’s own right, to hopefully be recognised as “treatened” Australia wide.
So last Sunday we assembled at Melbourne’s Federation square to introduce the mighty dingo to the city folk! The dozen adult dingoes as well as a few of this years puppies provided quite a spectacle in the centre of the city! Naturally our dingoes behaved impeccably and people where absolutely amazed to see these wonderful and stately animals. Puppies where in high demand, everybody wanted to hold one and hundreds of pictures where “flashed”. We literally seemed to talk to thousends of people and where able to collect hundreds of signatures for our cause. Hopefully, this sort of event can be repeated and perhaps more participants from other dingo organizations might take part to make the occasion even more spectacular!
Meanwhile, I hope everything is well with you and your hardworking supporters!
As always, you have our dingoes and our support, we are in this together!
Kind Regards
Midori & Alfred Mueller
Hi Jennifer
I have been following your work for a while now and really admire you. I have an undergraduate degree in animal management and am now studying postgraduate in Conservation Biology. I was wondering if you know of, or have any links to, dingo conservation volunteer programs? I would really like to help out and learn more about these amazing animals and help to spread the word about how important they are to this country.
Kind regards
Sophie
This time last year was nerve wracking only months away from the trial, Charity Dinner, Dingo Day/Candle Night, you, we, gave them a fight they never thought they would get, they would have loved for you to have gone away, hat off to you Jen for not doing so.
What amazing paintings you do Jennifer!!! They are truly beautiful. You have a way of making the paintings come to life. I know you must use “photos” of the subject you are going to paint – but your paintings are just so alive with personality. I saw the painting (on SFID website) of the german shepherd dog you painted – it was brilliant..
I hope you sell many, many paintings as you are a very talented, sensitive, caring person Jennifer. I know I have not met you but I can tell the sort
of person you are thru your work and compassion about animals!!!!
I wish you much success in the future..
Kind regards,
Maddy
I would like to suggest to anyone who may like a pet portrait to click on the link and look at the beautiful paintings..there is one of my German Shepherd and it is an extraordinary likeness, a fantastic painting that I will treasure..
Dear Jen,sure you remember me-as well as a distinct christan name-Gigi-I was overly surely with my questions to you(durr!!!forgot it was a writersthingie after-all), got it now-don.t worry!Trying to contact as many friends as I can to raise consciousness-most do know my Love story that happened with my gypsy=girl dingo so at least I don’t have to persuade them first on the merits of a dingo ay-?!Jen I’m wondering if you’d consider the merits of a friend I;ve recently met, that seems more efficient than any lawyer!!great person-does something like uses a JP court credentials that allow him to represent people in court??
Now he’s not particularly an apostle of the merits of a dingo;like most he’s never been educated that’s all. I’ve given him a quickie intro on the workshop with some liberal embellishments on my part. BUT always the facts as I heard them!#Inhumane method of killing dingo’s.
House invasion of you?!Classification of “Feral”!?-for the dingos’??Dog tagging inhumane also.
1. I would like to know what the rangers expect the dingos’to live on? If they say Lizards, snakes, echidas etc. areTHEY NOT ALSO IN BREACH OF THE NATIONAL TRUST LEGISLATION , that should do its upmost to protect the natural marsupials and retiles of a National Trust property!!?? Yet they are encouraging feral or otherwise- by removing a source of food to these creatures, there-by committing I would think, a breach in National Trust legislation??
What do you think Jennifer?
Answer: surely, to relocate the rest of this dingo population would be better than to watch the not-so-slow extermination of the rest of the dingo population Jen?? And yes, they are a pure breed, all the dingo’s in the NT have the same characteristics apart from the gorgeous dropped paw!!??Never seen that-central desert either? Now this is my own opinion can;t swear, but Jen the Tassie Thylacine I’m sure had a dropped paw foot like these? Please check this bit out also. It’s just that I do come from Tassie and did go a fair few times to the Tassie museum= I need to go over to the NT for 8days, but I do so want you to contact me regarding this man- who is willing to delve into the laws to see if we can stopyou having to pay this fine? but I need your permission obviously to put this into action Jennifer?
To Jo, 20 July, 2011.
Thankyou for sharing such magical moments. Isn’t it a privilege to have this experience? Next time I hope you keep a camera handy so you can ” capture the moment”. It would have been great to see your photo’s. Keep telling everyone your positive experiences. Hooroo Dingosimon.
Hi Jen.
Thank you so much for the work you do to inform and teach people about the dingoes. I recently returned from a 2 week hike around Fraser Island, and certainly have come to understand the issues there- ranger attitudes, crowds, propaganda, littering, the poor dingoes don’t know WHAT to do, especially the pups. I posted on Mark Moxon’s site detailling my experiences, which I’ve copied below here, but a short version is I understand the rangers’ reasoning for their actions though I believe it to be completely disproportionate to the reality. Dingoes are wild animals and deserve the respect one would show to any wild creature. Having said that, as far as a wild creature goes, they are distinctly loveable, but more to the point- no creature should have to justify its existance or natural instinctual behaviour to man, least of all to/for tourists. I found it appalling to think that they are being killed, and am against their hazing as well. Education is the key- and thank you for doing that important work.
Best regards,
Jo.
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Hi Mark, Jen, Dingosimon and readers.
My experience with the dingoes has left me with a curious affection for them. I think the publicity of them is quite disproportionate, though I do see the reasoning behind their treatment by rangers. Unlike your experience, Mark, I did come across several dingoes personally during my 2 weeks. I think all in all they simply are curious and come over either for a look or some food if they can get it. I’ll elaborate so that other concerned travellers can get a sense of it, and hopefully feel a bit more confident.
The first dingo was just out of Happy Valley, and it trotted over to me as I was walking along beach. I was scared and didn’t know what to do, so just stopped still and tried to act boring. When the dingo began to yap at me and bounce around me, a 4WDer drove up and offered me a lift. The dingo seemed to me to want to play, but feeling insecure about it I accepted the lift, but retrospectively stopping for the dingo in the first place was a mistake; I should have kept calm and continued walking.
The next one was further north near Cathedral- it was just after dark and my camping neighbours were cooking some kind of meat. Then I saw a dingo running across the beach towards the wafting scent, and I could only laugh as I understood exactly- my mouth was watering at the smell of their BBQ too. After seeing a dingo run up the beach for BBQs I realised they’re literally just wild dogs.
There were a few nights that I could hear dingoes walking around my tent and snuffling at the edges. It was when one started pawing to get in that I told it in a firm voice to go away (much more confident by this stage), and it did.
One occasion I was walking along the sand dunes and came face to face with a dingo sitting in the shade. I felt a real thrill- and it was a GORGEOUS, dignified dingo- but I kept walking nonchalantly. It followed me for about a kilometer, keeping a respectful distance, and I so wished I had taken a photo of it! But memories a wonderful things too.
So, my most memorable encounter was one night just north of Eurong. I awoke in the middle of the night to hear a dingo outside my tent with an obvious intent to get inside. My food was hanging in the tree outside, but a local had told me they also go for leather too, so perhaps my boots? Anyway, I told it no and moved my boots further inside the tent. It stopped, and then I heard this beautiful howl- it was so beautiful, like it was a song- and such an expressive one! Not just one long howl, but some short, some long, different pitches, different sounds. I will never, never forget it, and feel so very honored to have heard it.
To anyone going to Fraser Island who is concerned- don’t be. Respect, confidence and firm boundaries goes a long, long way. And I wish you wonderful memories and experiences of Fraser and her dingoes.
Jennifer,
Thank you for responding, this is so cool what you’re doing & I’m so glad to know it’s being done. I’ll have to translate the info to spanish for the kids but I know they’ll be really excited about hearing from you. One of the things I’m trying to teach them also is how to work with street dogs & even though it’s obviously a completly different situation, learning to respect any wild or “untamed” animal is so critical. Some of the incidents you mention where dingoes are blamed for attacks is so typical & it’s all brought on by ignorance.
Thank you again,
Lauri Woods
Saint Patrick School
Temuco, Chile
Hi Jennifer,saw your story on ABC sometime ago. I have had an association with dingoes most of my life. They are very intelligent inquisitive kind animals.Ihave a property between Dalby and Moonie surrounded by 200,000 thousand acres of forestry where I see and hear them often. I used to go to fraser once a year fishing with mates,and often had rows with park rangers over the warrigals.It is ashame we waste so much food in our cities,some of this could be turned into food for the dingoes.I could go on about stories of the dingoes and rangers tagging them in them in the state forest but your sides would split from laughter.Anyway take care and it would be a privelage to meet you and shake your hand kind regards Leechy
Hi Lisa and Rebecca, thanks for writing. Please join SFID and you will get all our news and updates and we will be able to work out the best way you can help, depending on which state you live in and what talents and abilities you have. To do that you can contact our secretary, Karin on mkrail@bigpond.net.au. meanwhile, if you would like to join our face book group, there is always heaps of news there. save fraser island dingoes. and there are a few videos on you tube you might like to see. the one here, if you click on this link, will show you what is happening at the moment with the FI dingoes. please pass it around amongst your friends. thanks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSSaknF6Wnw&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
Hi Jennifer ,my housemate and i watched your story on channel 2 Austrailan story about the dingo s and we thought you were doing the right thing trying to help them we are both animal lovers and want to help as well how can we help you ? please tell us if there is any way thanks Lisa Macdonald , Rebeca Wood ,ps sorry we got back to you so late as your story was ages ago .And can you tell us how the dingos are doing now .
Hi Jennifer, I realise your battle began a long time back however, living in WA, I had not heard about it until I happened across this site. It is appalling to read of such injustices, to the dingoes and yourself. I have had more than one close encounter with wild dingoes while travelling in the bush alone. I respect and like dingoes as intelligent wildlife, here long before we Europeans set foot here and began our desecration. As for some people in Government Departments with their uniforms to hide behind as they bully with power lust, they should be totally ashamed. May they learn in years to come of their stupidity. Do you still have outstanding fines to pay ? I am not sure from the above just where you are at with that. Warmest regards and congratulations on being such a caring and dedicated person. Should those with the guns and collars be so lucky as to ever reach your status. Regards Nadeen
A look at the RSPCA Queensland website http://www.rspcaqld.org.au/wildlife/ shows their new focus of activity.
http://www.sosnews.org/newsfront/?p=476 There was a march against Government lack of proper care and management of wild life and dingos. The government has now employed RSPCA to move into these groups and this area to silence these groups. Like spies in war RSPCA have the function of destroying the groups discontent with government activity and lack of activity in this area.
RSPCA are the Queensland Government’s hench men.
This is a new space worth watching and all the wild life carers should be wary of this RSPCA involvement.
You are the victim of draconian government who now has a bulldozer to make a path to the better treatment of poor defenseless animals.
Citizens, please keep clear of bulldozer or ride with me……..should you be a DERM employee…..please feel free to stand in the way ….
08/06/2011
It was reported last night on the television news that Queensland National Parks & Wildlife have captured some dingoes on Fraser Island and fitted the poor animals with heavy collars, with ridiculous antennas attached.
I would like to know, did they get permission from Aunty Marie, the Aboriginal Elder of Fraser Island, to place these death collars on her people’s totem animal, the dingo? I strongly doubt it.
When all the poor creatures die of starvation, because they now cannot hunt efficiently, or die of strangulation, from being caught up in vines, or go mad, because it will be rejected from its pack through human intervention and handling, the Aboriginal people, together with other caring souls,
Will lay all the dead dingoes at the departments feet and the spirit of the dead totem will bring the department to account.
Maxine Jacobsen