Residents have called in a dingo expert to help educate and protect locals concerned about them wandering near the public.
Local woman Fiona Porteous reached out to the founder of Black Dingo Alliance Sole (with an accent on e) Herrera seeking advice after concerns were raised about a black dog near Tamborine Mountain State School and The Manor.
“I wanted to figure out why they were wanting to come into human space because they are thriving in the rainforest,” Fiona, who is a dog behaviourist and trainer said.
She said while she understood people were fearful, it was important to remember most locals choose to live on the mountain for its abundance of wildlife.
“We can’t kill them; they are indigenous and deserve to be here. Why did we move to the mountain; nine times out of 10 it will be for the wildlife,” Fiona said.
People have been hand feeding the dingo in an attempt to gain it’s trust and handle it, which Sole said has resulted in the dingo becoming habituated and that is a problem.
She stressed it is not a domestic dog, but a pure juvenile rainforest dingo, often mistaken for kelpies.
“It’s a very common situation. Well-meaning people think they are dumped dogs, so they want to help them,” she said.
“The dingoes are in a dire situation because they are misunderstood.”
Sole has emailed Tamborine Mountain State School principal Jason Smith seeking to provide education for parents and children.
Mr Smith said he had not had any reports of problems with dingoes but would be sharing on the school’s Facebook page and newsletter the information provided to him from Sole and Rory.
“A stick won’t work because it’s a threat and dingoes don’t want to be threatened. Problems will occur if they are threatened.
“A sports whistle or clown horn you put on your bike or anything loud to frighten it is what people should be using.
“We are in dingo breeding season which creates extra bravado and a lot more activity and sightings until June.
“We need to take action right now.”
Rory O’Connor a local author and traditional custodian from the Yugambeh and Mununjali family has been helping to educate children at the primary school on dingoes through his book The Dolphin Dreaming.
He has also produced a poster reiterating that our forests are home to many native animals including dingoes and should be left alone.
The poster advises children not to leave food out or interact with dingoes and if worried to walk with a friend and make noise.
Fiona said: “We have to learn to live with them not cull them.”
