Community & Business
17 September, 2023
Dingo focus of free talk
THE nature and role of dingoes in the Australian grazing landscape is the subject of a free talk to be presented at Malanda this Thursday.
Hosted by the Tree Kangaroo and Mammal Group (TKMG), the talk will also reference the latest research about the nature of the Australian Dingo also, derived from recent genetic work, and consider implications of different classifications of the animal.
TKMG president Peter Valentine said that from early European settlement times in Australia, many graziers developed antagonism towards the native canid carnivore, the dingo.
“Programs supported and funded by governments have been in place to use lethal methods to remove dingoes from grazing landscapes across Australia,” he said.
“While this has been extreme in sheep grazing areas, even in beef grazing districts many graziers undertake lethal baiting programs in an effort to reduce dingo populations.
“One important question relates to the success or otherwise of this approach and increasingly many graziers are asking different questions.
“Some of these are being debated in various forums and together with Indigenous views and knowledge about dingos raise very interesting questions.
“In Queensland, there are a range of views and the Tree Kangaroo and Mammal Group is hosting a presentation about the role of dingoes in grazing lands.”
He said some graziers claimed much benefits coming to them financially through retention of a healthy population of dingos on their properties, mainly through the reduction of competing grazing pressures from feral or native grazing animals including kangaroos and goats.
The presentation, to be held in the Malanda Big Pub on Thursday 14 September, will be from researcher, Dr Barry Traill and a grazier, Angus Emmott, who will each present their perspective on the issue.
This is bound to be a fascinating talk and interested members of the public are invited to attend. It will start at 7.30pm and there will be opportunities for questions.
