Contacts and Links

A Spirit of Affection

There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. – Elie Wiesel

If you wish to voice your protest about the injustice done to our Fraser Island dingoes (K’gari wongari), please contact these people below:

Federal Environment Minister: Hon Sussan Ley MP

Principal Office

517 Kiewa Street

Albury, NSW, 2640

Postal address

PO Box 672

Albury, NSW, 2640

Phone: (02) 6021 3264

Parliament Office

PO Box 6022

House of Representatives

Parliament House

Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: (02) 6277 7920

Twitter @Sussan Ley

Facebook @Sussan Ley

 

Queensland Environment Minister: Hon Leeanne Enoch

Ministerial Office Postal Address

GPO Box 5078
BRISBANE QLD 4001

Phone: (07) 3719 7140
Email: environment@ministerial.qld.gov.au

Electorate Office Address

Shops 3 and 4, 137 Parkwood Drive
HEATHWOOD QLD 4110

 

 

Minister for Agricultur: The Hon David Littleproud MP

PO Box 6022

House of Representatives

Parliament House

Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: (02) 6277 7190

Principal Office

T40-42, Dalby Shopping World

17-67 Cunningham Street

Dalby, QLD, 4405

Postal address

PO Box 641

DALBY, QLD, 4405

Phone: (07) 4662 2715

Twitter @D_LittleproudMP

Facebook David Littleproud MP

Email: Minister.Littleproud@agriculture.gov.au

 

Shadow Minister for Agriculture: Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP

Principal Office

3 Edward Street
Cessnock, NSW, 2325

Postal address

PO Box 526
Cessnock, NSW, 2325

Phone: (02) 4991 1022

PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: (02) 6277 4550

Email: Joel.Fitzgibbon.MP@aph.gov.au

 

Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water: Terri Butler MP

Principal Office

Unit 14, 76 Old Cleveland Road

Greenslopes, QLD, 4120

Postal address

PO Box 737

Coorparoo, QLD, 4151

Phone: (07) 3397 1674

Parliament Office

PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: (02) 6277 4877

Email: Terri.Butler.MP@aph.gov.au

 

Premier of Queensland: Annastacia Palaszczuk MP

Postal address:

PO Box 15185

City East

Queensland 4002

Phone: (07) 3719 7000

Facebook

LinkedIn

Twitter

Email: Inala@parliament.qld.gov.au

 

Department of Environment and Science

Email: info@des.qld.gov.au

GPO Box 2454, Brisbane Queensland 4001

Senior conservation ranger: Marc DARGUSCH marc.dargush@des.qld.gov.au

 

Fraser Coast Chronicle:  Jessica.Grewal@frasercoastchronicle.com.au

Sunshine Coast Daily: letters@scnews.com.au editorial@scnews.com.au

Gympie Times: editor@gympietimes.com

 

 

Save Fraser Island Dingoes Inc. has been been fighting for many years and on many fronts to protect and conserve the Iconic (K’gari) Fraser Island dingo….Available are Newsletters and Media Statements highlighting our efforts and those of our supporters. From the SFID website:

Newsletters

Please Download our Newsletters (Click on the Links Below)

Media Releases

We would like to acknowledge the support of individuals and Organisations, both Nationally and Internationally who have assisted in bringing about public awareness on the plight of our K’gari-Fraser Island Dingo.

Dingo deliberately run down on K’gari. 9 March 2020                  Social Media has taken up the cause to identify a driver who deliberately targeted and killed a dingo sitting on the beach in the Orchid Beach area around 9PM on the 6th March.

Fraser Island Fires..The Aftermath of the Fraser Island Fires.

The recent bush fires on Fraser Island have left a scene of arid despair, nothing in the wake of this fire could have survived the ferocity of the flames. Tourists have vowed never to return and yet, to date, the only response from the government has been an automated reply stating “should it be required, a formal response will be sent”….hardly satisfactory considering the fear and devastion caused..

The Dept of Environment and Resource Management’s (DERM) fire management is in dire need of a review, this is not the first “controlled” fire to get out of hand, in 2009 at least 20,000 hectares went up in flames, and every year a back burn seems to backfire.

How many more years will tourist’s endure the uncertainty of DERM’s fire regime and how much wildlife will perish before the government decides to “respond”?…

Government defends Fraser Island Fires..

The Qld State Government has finally commented on the recent disastrous “uncontrolled” fires on Fraser Island. The Environment Minister, Vicky Darling, has defended the Fraser Island Fire Management Strategy (FIFMS). In a statement released she announced that the fires are conducted to “mitigate the risk to life and property and increase bio-diversity”. This seems at odds with the fact that lives were put at risk and the vegetation will take many generations to recover.

The intensity of this fire is overlooked in the Ministers’ response and the suggestion that it will provide “habitat and sustenance” for wildlife only proves how ill-informed this government is.. The Minister seems unaware that Fraser Island is a sand Island and the “recycling of nutrients back through the natural system” will be a very long process.

Not only does the Government defend their fire regime but have gone as far as insinuating that QPWS was not responsible, this was to be expected as the Dept. of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) has a habit of blaming visitor’s and locals for its mistakes.

It seem the Minister is reciting from a well rehearsed Government publication rather than analysing the unique situation on Fraser Island and understanding the management requirements of this fragile ecosystem. The continued mishandling of fire management does not inspire confidence for the future..we wait in anticipation the result of your investigation…

Dingo Strategy has no bite…

Recent reports obtained through freedom of information suggest that the government has been misleading the public regarding the cause of aggression by the Fraser Island Dingo.

These reports, dating back to 1994 and Commissioned by the Government, clearly demonstrate that feeding is not the main cause of aggressive behaviour. In fact the reports state that loss of fear when combined with hunger, is the actual cause of problem behaviour (Price 1994) and the incidence of stalking is most likely attributed to lack of foods available.

This study confirms what scientists and researchers have been saying for years, lack of food is a major factor in causing unnatural and inappropriate behaviour. A hungry animal can become volatile and unpredictable. Constant trapping, ear-tagging, hazing and destroying of animals disrupts the pack structure which, in turn, leads to anti-social behaviour, but this is not recognised in the Dept. of Environment and Resource Management’s Dingo Strategy.

DERM was aware that limiting food sources, such as closing the dumps, would have consequences.”The dump closure…. is blamed for starvation” (Price 1994) but did not consider it of importance.

The study also discusses the fact that nipping and biting is usually provoked by visitors and that a juvenile dingo’s natural curiosity and play-behaviour can be misinterpreted as aggression. Price states, “nuisance behaviour is usually associated with a juvenile
animals playful character.” But again DERM has ignored its own findings and the majority of animals destroyed today are juveniles.

Jennifer Parkhurst, Wildlife Photographer, was fined a sum of $40,000 including a 3 year suspended sentence for feeding starving animals and allegedly causing them to become dangerous. At the time this was considered excessive, as the maximum fine for feeding a dingo is $4000, now it seems ridiculous.

DERM’s management strategy is apparently based on the observations of rangers and students during the course of their field work. Jennifer Parkhurst spent 7 years of observations but her findings were dismissed.

In light of this study questions need to be asked:

Why did DERM spend so much time and effort pursuing Ms. Parkhurst in an attempt to denounce her research when her findings were similar to those of their own department?

Why did DERM subsequently use a photograph from Ms. Parkhurst’s study on its website if her findings were discredited?

Why does DERM continue to deny that its management was not responsible for starvation of the dingoes when clearly this document shows that the strategy had a huge impact on the dingoes behaviour?

Why is the public only fined for feeding, but allowed to torment and tease the dingoes?

Why is the signage on the island only warning tourists not to feed dingoes, but no signage warning tourists not to abuse the animals?

Why are members of the public not held accountable for their actions, such as not supervising children?

Why are juvenile dingoes still being targeted for destruction when exhibiting natural behaviours?

Save Fraser Island Dingoes Inc. will be taking these questions, and many more, to the government…

Note: Jennifer Parkhurst’s photographs were not only misappropriated but misrepresented and subsequently removed without explanation..

“DERM stated under the photo: “do not mistake this behaviour as ‘play’. It is not a game” – when in fact, it was a game and the dingoes were playing.” Jennifer Parkhurst.

Collaring the Fraser Island Dingo.

The Dingo is protected in Queensland National Parks as a native species, (Nature Conservation Act 1992) and the State Government has a legal responsibility to conserve these populations and an obligation to ensure that the management of the dingo is ethical and humane.

This latest project by Qld. National Parks (DERM) of attaching tracking collars to 20 dingoes in the hope of monitoring the animals movements over the Island does not meet the above criteria.

Whilst research is needed scientist’s question the ethics of using such an invasive device and dingo experts believe these collars will be even more detrimental than the ear tags.

It is widely considered by animal behaviourist’s and the scientific community that no surveillance method should be used which is likely to interfere with the animals’ ability to function naturally, but these tracking collars will disrupt normal dingo behaviour, some animals may be ostracized or even killed by other members of the pack, the collars will also interfere with normal foraging and hunting, so how will the data collected be deemed to be accurate?

Tourists and local residents are appalled on seeing these cumbersome collars and there are many doubts as to veracity of this methodology, we ask the Minister Ms.Vicky Darling and Qld National Parks (DERM) the following questions..

What ethics/approvals have been obtained and from where?

What studies have been done to ensure these devices will not interfere with natural behaviours such as hunting, whelping, feeding pups and interacting with other pack members?

What University staff are involved and what are the credentials of those involved in this study?

Sub-adults are mentioned, what is the actual age of the animals collared?

What is the purpose of locating dens? Due to the governments past mistreatment of the animals, this is of great concern to independent researchers and residents.

There is some confusion as to how the release mechanism functions since in the past collars have failed to release. How will those monitoring know when an animal is entangled, unable to hunt or care for pups? Especially since the rangers leave the Island in the evening.

What is the explicit purpose of this research and what is hoped to be achieved?

If the results indicate the dingoes are in crisis, what will be your response?

How do you reconcile the use of these collars with your policy of regarded dingoes as “wild, native animals” that “should be interfered with as little as possible” and of “conserving the species in a near- natural environment?

Who are the real Environmental vandals?

The Hon. Ms. Kate Jones has now abandoned her portfolio as Minister for the Environment and resource Management, but before leaving she has attempted to win votes and influence people by offering incentives to the Tourism Industry this includes allowing tour operators to move from three-year permits to 15-year agreements, but operators are worried that the costs of “new best practice” might hit their bottom line. The ex Minister has also established an enforcement unit to crack down on environmental
vandals and investigate breaches of the law.

At a cost of more than $27 million dollars these enforcers will audit businesses and sites across Queensland, but perhaps the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) would be better off auditing their own management practices before embarking on a crusade to save the State.

The government has an abysmal record of managing National Parks none more evident than the degradation of Fraser Island..

An internal report by the University of the Sunshine Coast (2009) on the water quality of Fraser Island found contamination in the ground water to be of serious concern and management action required.

The perched lake system is also under threat by overcrowding and inadequate infrastructure.

Marine debris washes up along the shoreline and mixed with human waste is left to rot.

The iconic Fraser Island dingo is constantly harassed, trapped and treated inhumanely and unethically by DERM rangers.

This is just one example of environmental neglect by the current government.

So who is auditing the auditors? Who are the real environmental vandals? Perhaps those millions could be better spent cleaning up the governments own environmental mess?

An Open Letter to the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability.

The Fraser Island Dingo deserves to be protected, especially in a World Heritage National Park, now defined as a “natural resource”of the Island. (Derm v Parkhurst 2010).

It is believed the Government’s focus is upon the tourist dollar, and not the preservation of this “natural resource”. Therefore decisions are being made for the benefit of the tourism industry rather than for the benefit of the flora and fauna of Fraser Island.

Dingo packs cannot sustain current management practices indefinitely.

Read the Complete Letter Here.

 

51 Responses to Contacts and Links

  1. Dorothy says:
    16 August 2012 at 12:43 am

    Oh my I am from the USA and we dont have any starving native animals, we have park rangers that know how to manage populations. This was a sad sight to witness, I went to Australia to have fun and see a nice landscape. One of my last stops was Fraser Island, I would never recommend this sad sight. It broke my heart too see these forgotten creatures starving to death. Even the third world doesnt have dogs this skinny. It left me saddened, and I hope someone helps them. I would not recommend this place to anyone. God help them.

  2. Dave Hawke says:
    25 January 2012 at 11:11 pm

    Hi Jennifer

    I would like to discuss ways of assisting you but cannot find an email address on your site. Can you provide me with an address please.

    Kindest regards

    David J Hawke BSc MA Dip MI (Animal Health)

  3. Mandy says:
    20 August 2011 at 7:16 pm

    I cannot believe the dingo is not protected but instead is left to die of starvation on Fraser Island. This saddens me greatly. Australian can’t even protect our own animals but instead are letting this icon become extinct before our eyes. I had always thought Australia was a humane country, however, with my love of all animals I am finding out that Australia is a very inhumane country. Please please stop this disgusting treatment. Does the Qld Govt have no compassion to let this continue?

  4. Taylor says:
    28 July 2011 at 10:44 am

    I support the pledge to save the Fraser Island dingos

  5. Anastacia Hennings says:
    28 June 2011 at 6:14 pm

    My opinion of the Queensland Government regarding the native dogs on Fraser Island is disgust.Starving dogs to death is just the lowest of the lowest in the land of plenty. Arial drop food weekly has anyone thought of this simple solution and restrict the human beings (if not totally) to the beautiful island.Show some compassion, think of your own pet what would be your reaction to starve them?

  6. Barbara Hennings says:
    28 June 2011 at 6:05 pm

    Please do not starve these native dogs to death,
    Arial feed could be dropped at least once a week. Fraser Island is their island Shame Shame Shame on Australia for such cruelty.It is slow torture. The more I know about the human race the more I love all creatures great and small. Again Please do not starve these native dogs to death. Barbara Hennings

  7. Vivienne Ortega says:
    2 June 2011 at 7:34 pm

    Dingoes should have the priority on Fraser Island, not tourist dollars. This is the bottom line. Wildlife are doing it tough always, and are seen as optional extras rather than integral on our land and part of our responsibility. The priorities are all about economic, not natural values. Dingoes must be protected, not loathed and lethally “managed” and starved.

  8. Mr Jack Dempsey MP LNP Bundaberg says:
    8 March 2011 at 9:59 pm

    2nd March 2011

    Response to Australia Story episode on Jennifer Pankhurst

    AFTER watching Monday’s Australian Story episode on Fraser Island dingo activist Jennifer Pankhurst, Opposition Shadow Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Jack Dempsey has expressed his continuing concern for the plight of Australia’s last remaining pure-bred native dogs.

    “Sadly the Fraser Island dingo population is at threat due to a lack of food and the Bligh government response to the crisis is woefully inadequate,” Mr Dempsey said.

    “We have the last of our country’s pure dingoes starving on Fraser Island and the Department of Environment and Resource Management is failing to act.”

    “Unfortunately, under the Bligh government DERM has become another department more concerned about bureaucratic red tape than achieving results.”

    “Instead of focusing on proactive steps to protect this precious species, DERM is too busy enforcing the letter of the law against a woman who was only trying to desperately help these starving animals.”

    “It was telling that Environment and Resource Management Minister Kate Jones didn’t even appear on the Australian Story episode, instead she sent departmental officers to face the media.”

    “When it comes to the Fraser Island dingoes, Minister Jones has always hidden behind the courts because she doesn’t want to address the department’s failure to properly manage the dingoes.”

    “Unfortunately, the Environment and Resource Management Minister is too busy applying bureaucratic red tape and posing with koalas instead of addressing serious concerns such as the struggling Fraser Island dingo population.”

    “Minister Jones needs to stop avoiding the issue and step in to protect these dingoes before it is too late.”

    Media contact: Chris McLoughlin on 4152 1476 or 0413 485 766

  9. Jennifer Parkhurst says:
    6 March 2011 at 6:48 pm

    MM,
    In answer to your question; Would this slow death sentence be because their usual target species/food sources have been removed to make the island more human/tourism business friendly? in a way: Yes. They have been fenced out of areas; hazed off the beach; disallowed from middens; hazed away from people; even the Butchulla People, the traditional owners of K’Gari, are no longer allowed to feed this, their companion dog. the ecosystem is shattered due to all the interference. The list goes on. Long history of companionship with people is the biggest problem; authorities want them to now be separate and ‘wild’, when they never were fully wild. they always depended on us in some way. But now, tourism rules, I am sad to say.

  10. Malcolm Mortimer says:
    6 March 2011 at 5:16 pm

    I recently lost a pure north west desert dingo to a neighbours bullet. Although ‘Ernie’ was what I would call a very ‘socialized’ and friendly Dingo…, he/they always have that ‘call of the wild’ within them…, it can’t be ‘trained out’ of them…, and so one day back in January he escaped, went for a wander and my neighbour did not hesitate to shoot him. Of course I was devastated.

    So…, when I viewed the ABC’s Australian Story it brought it all back for me, it really resonated with me. These animals are too unique and special to allow to starve to death in what amounts to a concentration camp. It’s a national disgrace…, the Queensland Government are responsible for these animals for ‘the whole of Australia’, they are in effect the custodians of the last ‘manageable’ pure strain of dingo. I wish they would take this responsibility much more seriously.

    Question; Would this slow death sentence be because their usual target species/food sources have been removed to make the island more human/tourism business friendly ?

  11. Annette Madson says:
    5 March 2011 at 9:53 pm

    Well it is hard to believe that that Jennifer parkhurst was fined 40,000 dollars for her natural caring for the dingoes, where is the RSPCA in all this? As far as I”m concerned the government has a lot to answer for. I just couldn’t believe it when I saw Australian story. how could anyone not feed the dingoes and how could one watch them dying without trying to help. SHAME SHAME SHAME to the powers that be.
    ANNETTE

  12. Conchita Kovel says:
    5 March 2011 at 7:18 pm

    Dear Jennifer you are a messenger of God. Keep your strengh. I could not sleep all night thinking about those poor Dingoes. What on hearht is wrong with (NPWL) ? Tell us what we can do to bring respect & peace to these majestic animals NOT THE ABSENCE OF FEAR OR DESPAIR BUT THE STRENGHT TO CONQUER IT

  13. Jody Marlowe says:
    5 March 2011 at 3:41 pm

    It would seem to me that the QLD Goverment is as always more concerned with the bottom $ and preserving the Fraser Island 4WD culture than protecting and preserving these beautiful and threatened creatures… Shame Queensland Shame

  14. Manny says:
    5 March 2011 at 1:16 pm

    Its funny we send money over seas to save Bears…or try stop whaleing but dont do anything for our Dingos…stop feeding terrorist and look after our wild life.

  15. Jennifer Parkhurst says:
    4 March 2011 at 6:49 pm

    Hi Maddy,
    thanks for bringing up the very special fac that the dingo is on our Australian Passport!
    i dont think many people know that!
    And you’re right. if there are no dingoes left on FI it might be a lot easier to manage – but that’s becasue there wont be any people on the island either! no tourists, anyway.

  16. Jennifer Parkhurst says:
    4 March 2011 at 6:38 pm

    Dear Bridget,
    You are right. there was no justice in this anywhere. it was all about politics, and the welfare of the animals be damned – law be damned. Randall walked away scott free.
    The worst thing i have ever endured in my life was watching those animals suffer and die year after year. i amstill grieving. every now and then i suddenly get a flashback or memory and it’s as though it happened yesterday. thanks for understanding.

  17. Kristine Edwards says:
    4 March 2011 at 11:05 am

    Hi Jennifer,
    I truly respect and admire your passion and determination to make a change to the future of the Australian Dingo Dogs. I was so affected watching these creatures die such a terrible and agonising death and will support you and this cause to the end. Thanks to you and Australian Story for making this documentary together we CAN and MUST make a CHANGE.
    Kristine Edwards

  18. Maddy Lois says:
    3 March 2011 at 11:22 pm

    This is so cruel, disgusting, callous & UN-AUSTRALIAN!!!!
    Just about every household in Australia owns a pet, which becomes part of their
    “family”. Just because the dingo is NOT in our backyards – does not mean we can destroy them!!!
    The dingo is good enough to be on the Australian passports, make it into some storybooks, not to
    mention ALL the merchandise thru the popular tourists destinations in QLD!!!! If there are no dingoes – that
    mean no visitors. Fraser Island is a beautiful beach – but people come to F.I for the special experience of
    seeing a dingo in the wild…………even at a safe distance!!!!

  19. Jennifer Parkhurst says:
    3 March 2011 at 11:06 pm

    if you would like to help, please contact SFID and join (mkrail@bigpond.net.au). we can then get to know you and work out exactly what you can do, and you will recieve regular updates and newsletters. also, write to your local MP and demand that this matter is brought up in Parliament. the Govt needs to know that the citizens of this country care! thank you.

  20. Jennifer Parkhurst says:
    3 March 2011 at 9:41 pm

    Hi Jaahda,

    Thank you for your very valid opinion. You are right, there is nothing on my site with regards to a new management plan. All our PDF files are available through the SFID library at mkrail@bigpond.net.au. Papers have been submitted to the Govt, but were for the most part not responded to…

    There is a scientific committee appropriately reviewing the plan and making proposals as to the best approach. if you would like more info, please write to the LNP who have put a draft proposal together… Hervey.Bay@parliament.qld.gov.au

    Meanwhile, our ideas follow these lines:

    Have an ‘enter at own risk’ policy.

    Alert people that this is a place where wild animals exist and make them understand that they would not leave their kids unsupervised at a billabong in Kakadu.

    Stop culling problem animals

    – this is not done in other national parks. Relocate ‘animals to be culled’ to the many sanctuaries that are asking for pure FI dingoes.

    Educate people by using videos such as the one we saw on the AS program,, where a man thinks he is being attacked and panics. I tell him to stand still, which he immediately does, and the dingoes instantly walk away.

    NEW EDUCATION BROCHURES WHICH SFID WILL DISTRIBUTE TO LOCAL BACKPACKERS ETC, WE JUST NEED FUNDING TO PRINT THEM.

    Introduce random food drops During peak dingo breeding times, as is done by other national parks around the world, when the food supply is scarce. Starvation in animals is caused by human intrusion and needs to be fixed by human intervention.

    Accept that the beach is a dingoes’ territorial boundary and that it must patrol this boundary, and look for food there, every day.

    Post a ranger at busy tourist spots during peak times so that if a dingo approaches, they do not panic.

    introduce some captive-bred dingoes to a fenced display area of the island so tourists can have their photos taken with a dingo, and are less inclined to chase dingoes around trying to get a photo.

    Stop sensationalized reporting of dingo incidents.

    Stop the fear campaign.

  21. Wendi Guy says:
    3 March 2011 at 6:13 pm

    Save our dingoes or we’ll lose them. Start up a feed program to help these beautiful creatures, not condemn them. Shame on you government and the courts. Can’t you see how genuine Jennifer was and it’s human nature to not see anything suffer so I don’t blame her one bit. CHANGE THE LAWS NOW!!!!!!

  22. Jaahda says:
    3 March 2011 at 2:49 am

    hi
    I just watched Australian Story and as a result came here.
    I’ve browsed through the site a bit but cannot find a part of the site where one can read what you believe to be the ‘right management plan’. would be good if there were one that i could read.
    sure – i’ve done a bit of reading between the lines ……..and maybe there is such a place on this site. if there is please point me there.
    thanks.

  23. Jennifer Parkhurst says:
    2 March 2011 at 6:05 pm

    Carolyn, i couldnt agree with you more. Dingoes have been on Fraser since the pyramids were built. Then in a few short years white fella comes along and manages it to death. if the dingoes disappear the ecosystem on the island will be completely ruined, which will cause a trophic cascade; the rainforest will be overtaken by weeds, the sand dunes will erode away and the only wildlife will be snakes, goannas and spiders. it will be left just an ugly sand blow with a tourist resort sitting on top of it. then what will it be worth?

  24. Vicky Stewart says:
    2 March 2011 at 1:38 pm

    Absolutely discusted by QLD Governments stand – the RSPCA should be involved – extreme cruelty to animals, all for the tourist dollar. What a sad world we live in. Those animals need to be cared for and that job should be given back to the Aboriginal people of Fraser Island

  25. Carolyn Goates says:
    2 March 2011 at 12:27 pm

    I watched your special on television as was absoluty appalled at the suffereing and treatment of these animals that have been part of the Australian landscape for thousands of years. We just cannot stop changing our environemt to suit such a small percentage
    of our population. When will we learn that what we love about our environment and the places we visit to have this experience we change to such a point that it no longer resembles anything like it was

    signed,

    disgusted
    Carolyn Goates

  26. Julianne B says:
    2 March 2011 at 9:56 am

    Hi Jennifer. I too was truly saddened by the images of these starving dingoes. If I were to have a dog in my back yard in this condition, I would be charged. If I were to CONTINUE to do so, I would be jailed. And yet, these people get away with it. It is criminal, and I agree as to why your fine was so high. That is also criminal. The dingo was there first. The only reason they do not want to stand on the side of the dingo is money. Tourism and money. We all know that. Good luck in your future ventures. I dont know what else to say.

  27. Jennifer Parkhurst says:
    1 March 2011 at 8:23 pm

    Hi Andrew,

    I can understand your fond memories of seeing wild brumbies on the island, and dingoes. What a lovely thing. I still get excited when I see brumbies here, at Rainbow, and when I see dingoes (we used to have a great population of pure white dingoes here till they culled them all, and we have a gorgeous population of black-and-tan, but who knows when they will be baited again?)

    Its great fun wandering around on the brumby trails here, watching the way they make their way through the bush without breaking a twig! It’s amazing!

    And the dingoes and brumbies live symbiotically. The dingoes use the brumby trails, and den their pups next to the brumby trails. Let’s face it, brumby manure is rich enough in nutrients to feed a starving dingo, as is human excrement. So it makes sense.

    And the dingoes and aborigines on the island had a symbiotic relationship For that matter, most of nature does except for white fella.

    The Butchulla people themselves have stated: ‘the government tried to get rid of us, and now they are trying to get rid of our dog’.

    It would be no surprise if a child was killed by snake, crocodile, funnel web, drowning, dehydration, etc, if left alone in any of Australia’s national parks.

  28. jenna walker says:
    1 March 2011 at 6:57 pm

    hi jennifer my name is jenna and i am 9 years old.when i watched your story,i started to cry when the puppies died because they were hungry.i think kids should not be allowed on fraser island then the dingoes wont hurt them.the dingoes were there first.i think your fantastic dingoes rule love from jenna

  29. Jill Wild says:
    1 March 2011 at 11:10 am

    Thank god for Jennifer, and thank the ABC for Austrlian Story, as a devoted animal lover I had absolutely no idea about the dingos plight on Fraser Island. Its all the rangers that need to be culled not the poor dingos. What can I do to help Jennifer, please email me back. Jill Wild

  30. Debra Brown says:
    1 March 2011 at 11:02 am

    I worked in Sri Lanka a few years back and remember VERY clearly the starving dogs, some in shocking condition, suffering dreadfully – a very slow and cruel death.
    I saw the same thing last night on television and sat ashamed, upset and angry that this could happen in Australia – what is going on?
    Where is the RSPCA? No wonder there are attacks on people when the dogs are starving…it’s not rocket science!
    It seems the intention is to starve and cull the dogs out of existence so tourists can enjoy the island – this is unacceptable.
    We need to urgently set up feeding stations on the island until a review is completed – perhaps introducing a new food source for the dogs.
    But to stand back and allow this Govt Dpt to starve and slaughter these beautiful dogs is unthinkable….I’m not usually an activist, but I intend
    to get involved here – we do not treat animals in this way in Australia.
    I have often criticized the Greek authorities for using the cats on the islands for advertising purposes, while many are diseased and starving….we are guilty
    of exactly the same thing – come and have your picture on glorious Fraser Island with some dying dogs…if they bite you, we’ll shoot a dozen or so…
    We all have a responsibility to do something about this NOW.

  31. Andrew Cole says:
    1 March 2011 at 9:05 am

    Two of my fondest childhood memories were, seeing a brumbie family with young foal casually walking up the Fraser Is breach with long wild mains and tails, and also seeing native dingos roaming free. I understand the brumbies were introduced and rightfully removed, but as this is the dingos native habitat humans have no right exterminating them to extinction.

    With regards to the footage shown on last nights “Australian Story”, of the young girl eating a packet of chips in front of a starving dingo, no wonder she got a nip. And it was only a nip! Wild animals have great instincts but unfortunately they can’t detect stupidity in humans!

    I don’t know the full details of the kid that was killed by dingos, but should we be surprised or shocked? Did the kid do anything to provoke an attack? Or is this even any different to a snake or jelly fish bite? Australia is full of critters that can kill you – that’s what makes Australia – AUSTRALIA. Get over it!

    Why is there no dingo sanctuary on Fraser Is? Instead of plenty of red-neck Rangers eager to shoot something!

    I am disgusted as to the treatment of one of our iconic native animals – but from retarded politicians I expect no better. This method was successful with the Tasmanian Tiger, and the Aboriginals to some degree…why stop hey?

    Australian,
    Andrew

  32. Katie Hickson says:
    28 February 2011 at 11:15 pm

    Hi Jennifer
    Having just watched your story on on ABC TV’s Australian Story tonight, I have to say I was deeply saddened seeing the pictures of starving dingos on Fraser Island and angered by the miscarriage of justice and punitive fines and sentencing you were given by the QLD law courts for feeding the dingos.

    I believe the $40,000 fine and the sentence you have been given have been incredibly punitive given the relatively minor ‘crime’ you have been charged with. The fact that your male companion received no criminal charges and a much lesser fine shows without doubt you are being targeted to be ‘made an example’ of.

    As the producer of Horse Talk TV – a national TV show on horses, I would like to add my voice the support for justice for you, for the fight to save the Frazer Island dingos, and for more humane management of the dingo population by the Department of Environment and Resource Management.

    The ‘hazing’ and shooting of the dingos by Park rangers seems to be ill thought out management procedure as the resulting starvation the dogs face by being unable to access their traditional feeding grounds by the sea shore seems to me to be a factor contributing to why the dingos are scavenging food from tourists in the first place.

    As an animal lover with a passion for horses I have been part of public protests to stop the horrendous aerial shooting in the name of ‘culling’ of Brumbies within Australian National Parks. Aerial shooting in NSW was banned eight years ago after images of horses being gunned down in Guy Fawkes River National Park sparked public anger. National Parks now work out trapping and re-locating strategies to manage wild horse herds.

    I hope public outcry as a result of Australia Story and other publicity will help you gainsupport for your fight for to save Frazer Island’s unique dingos population.

    Wishing you strength.

    Katie Hickson
    Producer
    Horse Talk TV
    http://www.horsetalktv.com.au

  33. Jackie & Mark Purnell says:
    28 February 2011 at 11:14 pm

    Beautiful creatures. Shame about the authorities that want to ignore them to save tourism!

  34. Ian Menkins says:
    28 February 2011 at 10:58 pm

    There is a misconception that the Australian dingo is a species, when in fact it is a breed. The dingo is one of the oldest breeds in the world and the Fraser Island population is one of the purist in Australia but the Queensland Government has embarked on a policy that will ensure that the dingo is kept there in a state of starvation. As anyone knows, when a dog gets hungry it becomes less fearful and more likely to be aggressive in pursuit of food. So the policy of detaching the dingo from human beings has in fact backfired. The dingo (like any dog) also appears to crave human company. I submit that the Aboriginal people who are the original caretakers of the island and its wildlife should be permitted to take a more active role in caring for the island’s dingo population without excessive and unnecessary government interference. The present policy of culling starving animals is akin to a “concentration camp” mentality and seems more in line with a desire to gradually exterminate this wonderful breed. The policy is also extremely inhumane and reflects badly on the people of our country.

  35. Carolyn Ritchie says:
    28 February 2011 at 10:49 pm

    Jennifer, I wanted to tell you how greatful I am that there are people like you who take a stand and look after the under dog. I have just watched your Australian Story on the ABC and am total alarmed, upset and angered by what I saw. Please keep going, I admire your drive and passion. Be loud, be their voice. What can I do to help?

  36. vicky buesselmann says:
    28 February 2011 at 10:29 pm

    I can.t believe what you went through for feeding a dingo. Are the authorities there insane or what? Ther’s law for the guilty and law for the innocent and guess who always cops it, the innocent. Yet again, it has to do with money. They should all be shot. Animals were put on this earth for a reason, and that’s not to persecute people for feeding them. GET REAL YOU STUPID, DUMB AND HIGH AND MIGHTY LEGAL PEOPLE. What are you in that profession for?????????? To prosecute the innocent and give them a hefty fine and criminal record. GET REAL, GET OFF YOUR HIGH AND MIGHTY PEDESTAL AND BE FAIR WHERE FAIRNESS IS DUE. YOU’RE ALL NOTHING BUT DICKHEADS.

  37. Melva Elvey says:
    28 February 2011 at 10:14 pm

    Great coverage on Australian Story. I trust many were as outraged as I when seeing the plight of the dingos. I noted that changes had been mentioned with regards to tagging the pups which was a direct result of your information shared. Any animal will attack if starving in an effort to save itself and family. You should be congratulated on your detailed photography and observations instead of going to trial. If I kept my pets in a similar condition the RSPCA would be knocking on my door and I would be fined. How is that Fraser Island dingos can be treated in such a disgraceful manner. I will be looking to help – thanks for raising their profile.
    Best wishes,

  38. Helen Henderson says:
    28 February 2011 at 10:09 pm

    Dear Jennifer,

    Tonight I watched with horror, “Australian Story” on ABC 1. The arrogance NPWS who are “supposed to protect the wildlife of this country” yet they allow the dingoes to starve, and have the audacity to prosecute, a person who feeds them.

    I can assure you that, from the date of the establishment of the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS), on 1/10/1967, there have been a constant decrease of all our wildlife. We managed our wildlife a lot better, before they were established, and I have enough evidence to prove my statement.

    You should NOT feel guilty about feeding the starving dingoes. They (NPWS) should feel more than guilty, for allowing them, to starve. Even humans, ate other humans, when they were faced with starvation. Animals will only attack their enemies. That instinct is very strong, and that is why they were aggressive to the “little Hitlers” with the NPWS uniform.

    My God, that syndrome of the uniform!! There is French saying “dress a peg and turn it in to a Baron”

    I am with you and the Dingoes all the way, and let me know what I can do to help. Keep up your strength. You have a lot of followers. The Dingoes need you

    My best wishes and good luck

    Helen

  39. Malecha says:
    28 February 2011 at 9:53 pm

    I believe Fraser Island should be made tourist free. The dingo is an Australian icon and are being hunted by humans. There the only pure bred dingos left yet Queensland Parks and Wildlife don’t want to save them? why can’t they release a new food source onto the island? like introduce rabbits. Make the island completely human free. maybe a researcher can go on to the island for a week every month to check on progress. It’s just like the scenario with the Tasmanian Tiger the last purebred one died in captivity, i hope the future is different for the Dingo. As for the accidents on the island with the children, don’t the parents have enough common sense not to leave them un-attended?

  40. Bridget Bourke says:
    28 February 2011 at 8:38 pm

    Dear Jennifer
    I just watched Australian Story. It brought tears to my eyes.
    I cannot imagine how difficult it would have been to firstly watch those pups and beautiful dogs starve and die in front of your eyes, then to give in and help them only to be bullied and prosecuted by an unethical government department, and treated less favourably than someone else doing the exact same thing you did.
    This story broke my heart. I have never held interest in travelling anywhere in Australia – but I want to do what I can to help those poor dogs.
    We need legislative change – the dingos need protecting.
    You are such a strong woman to fight the government to protect yourself and those dogs.
    Keep up the fight – there are Australians from 1000s of kilometres away who support you and the dingoes you love.
    Bridget Bourke

  41. Rosie Bookallil says:
    28 February 2011 at 8:36 pm

    I am just watching the Australian Story episode which is still on as I write, and I am outraged !!!!!!!!
    Why have groups like WSPA/PETA not been brought in to take global action and create pressure on the NPW on Fraser Island ???????
    If the Australian governemtn will not step up for these wonderful animals, then surely the next step is to enlist the support from outside the country ??????

  42. Rosie Bookallil says:
    28 February 2011 at 8:33 pm

    I am just watching the Australian Story episode tonight, it’s still on as I’m typing this, and I am outraged that this is happening !!!!!!
    WHY IS THERE NO SUPPORT FROM GROUPS LIKE WSPA/PETA ????
    If the Australian government is not taking humane, respectful and sufficient action to really support these wonderful animals, then surely it is the next step to bring in the pressure from outside, global animal welfare groups.

  43. Jennifer Parkhurst says:
    5 February 2011 at 5:54 pm

    Hi Mano

    Thank you for your interesting blog. You’ve clearly pieced the story together well.

    http://www.justalittlegreen.net/2011/02/environmental-villian-or-hero/

    Mainstream media, cutting and pasting info from government media releases, is to blame for the misinformation that has been distributed.

    I did not ‘regularly’ feed dingoes during my time on Fraser Island. I spent 7 years on the island and I participated in the feeding of some of them by another person for roughly 6 months. The interfering charges are for simply ‘observing’ the pups at their natal den, with the permission of the alpha female dingo, and with an appropriate permit.

    I certainly did not feed those dingoes from the time they were pups.

    Those dingoes did not actually ‘attack’ other people. They did not ‘turn aggressive’. They were playful, boisterous juveniles and there was only one instance of them actually acting aggressive towards anyone and that person was a ranger. Four of them were destroyed for exhibiting ‘pack hunting techniques’.

    You can check this out yourself by applying for the information through FOI.

    Now, just so we are clear, FI dingoes are not hypercarnivores, and don’t pack hunt like mainland dingoes do.

    The prosecution/persecution was most certainly in retaliation of my criticism of the Govt’s management strategy, as can be seen by the penalties received this week (4-2-11) by two other ‘offenders’, one of which fed dingoes habitually for 30 years.

    I never used food to lure a dingo for a photograph. I never had to. That can be proven by the fact that my book, now published, features photos that were taken over three years ago, and the Govt certainly couldn’t find proof of me feeding them then, because I didn’t.

    I fed them because I was coerced (by a man who subsequently ‘dobbed me in’ out or retribution and revenge because I dumped him. Like the ranger who was caught feeding, this man made a deal with the government and walked away without any record and a mere $2,500 fine.), and in the end, I agreed with that second party, that it would be intolerable to see yet another family group starve to death.

    ‘very serious attacks on two children’ is almost slanderous statement. One of the children was my god-daughter, who often came to observe the dingoes with me, and the dingo was trying to get her food and nipped her. It hurt, she was upset, but she later said that her family dog, a ridgeback, played with her more forcefully and bit her harder than the dingo had. The other attack – well there is nothing to substantiate that in any of the information available through FOI, except for ranger’s statements.

    It is well known that dingoes never lose their instinct to hunt, even if they have been in a captive situation all of their lives.

    The actual number of dingoes on FI according to the latest research is 20 breeding adults. Although DERM now states that ‘numbers are irrelevant – it is the condition of the dingoes that is important’.

    I thoroughly agree with your closing statement:

    . ” Be careful in your relations with the government; for they draw no man close to themselves except for their own interests. They appear as friends when it is to their advantage, but they do not stand by a man in his time of stress.” (From the Ethics of the Fathers, a 1 600 year old collection of aphorisms)

  44. Immanuel Suttner says:
    4 February 2011 at 12:30 pm

    Hi Jennifer

    Good luck with your work to raise awareness. I hope you are not being intimidated by the bullying tactics of DERM. I have put up an article on my blog about your case, with a link to your blog
    Best wishes
    Immanuel Suttner

  45. Immanuel Suttner says:
    4 February 2011 at 12:30 pm

    Hi Jennifer

    Good luck with your work to raise awareness. I hope you are not being intimidated by the bullying tactics of DERM. I have put up an article on my blog about your ase, with a link to your blog…see

    http://www.justalittlegreen.net/2011/02/environmental-villian-or-hero

    Best wishes
    Immanuel Suttner

  46. Immanuel Suttner says:
    4 February 2011 at 12:29 pm

    Hi Jennifer

    Good luck with your work to raise awareness. I hope you are not being intimidated by the bullying tactics of DERM. I have put up an article on my blog about your ase, with a link to your blog…see

    Best wishes
    Immanuel Suttner

  47. Pam Fioretti says:
    15 October 2010 at 10:33 pm

    For shame that our native animals are being so badly dealt with – it shows a worrying ineptitude and lack of awareness and understanding. Intelligent people will fully support Jennifer in her efforts – unfortunately it’s not the intelligent people who are in charge!

  48. Mary Kenneally says:
    10 September 2010 at 11:44 pm

    Once, decades ago, an essential part of every Australian child’s education and expected behaviour was kindness to animals.
    Where has this standard gone?
    Compassion for animals is a sign of an enlightened society.
    This present treatment of the dingoes is not worthy of a country once dedicated to the creation of a just and intelligent society.
    Now it seems that rampant materialism and self indulgence are the only “virtues”
    Must human greed, selfishness and unkindness infest every inch of Australia?

  49. jenna sandy says:
    26 May 2010 at 9:40 pm

    dear jennifer, it saddens and but at the same time angers me that this is allowed to happen. there is evidence indicating that these beautiful dingoes are in trouble and need food urgently. what as humans have we become? we are our own worst enermies as humans. this so called ‘dingo management stregedy’ is clearly making things worse. how can the minister choose to ignore lives at stake. is it because they are not human? animals were on earth before we came along its about time we give them a fair go. how about if the minister traded places with the dingo and starved for a few weeks and see how it feel. maybe then she will wake up and see reality. you know as a animal lover and fighter for animals rights, it makes me sick to be a human knowing what pain and torture animals endure fo the sake of human satifaction. i am wanting to help anyway possible to stop this cruel act.

  50. karla heath says:
    12 May 2010 at 10:49 am

    Please save these sentient beings from starvation. No living creature deserves this treatment. It breaks my heart to hear of their plight!

  51. Gary Andrews says:
    5 May 2010 at 11:13 am

    It is unbelievable that in this day and age ,with the knowledge we have , people can be so cruel, uncaring and shortsighted as to allow the suffering of the dingoes on Fraser Island. We have had several young Canadians stay with us and one of their priorities is to visit the island to see a dingo. Politicians should be the ‘endangered’ species.
    Gary Andrews

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