Community & Business
23 October, 2026
Dingoes focus of free Malanda talk
THE dingo is one of Australia’s most controversial wildlife species and, next Monday, they will be the subject of a free talk at Malanda.
The dingo is considered to be an iconic native animal and culturally significant, yet also branded an agricultural pest.
In the last decade, genetics has rewritten what we thought we knew about dingo identity across the Australian landscape.
Dr Kylie Cairns is a post-doctoral researcher at the University of New South Wales, specialising in wildlife and conservation genetics. Her trailblazing work focuses on the genetic makeup of dingoes, investigating their evolutionary history, taxonomy and ecological role in Australia.
Dr Cairns has contributed significantly to understanding the origins and identity of dingoes and their relationship to domestic dogs and wolves.
More recently she has begun using environmental DNA to investigate how predators interact with their environment and other species.
Her research aims to inform conservation strategies that protect these iconic animals while balancing ecosystem health, biodiversity and agricultural impacts.
Kylie is passionate about engaging the public in science and conservation efforts and will do so on Monday night from 7.30pm at the Malanda Hotel.
Her talk, entitled “Dingoes in a contested landscape – conservation challenges and historic introgression”, is free to all interested members of the public.
