Canids - Family: Canidae
Photo by Erik Beringen
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Current wisdom dictates that the Australian Dingo is to be considered a Dog. Not a separate species, but just another variant or breed.
Whereas I am loathe to believe that the science behind this wisdom is either flawed or biassed, it does play neatly into the hands of current legislative powers that allow the culling of feral and 'wild dogs' to protect certain farming interests. Dogs are predators and, predators as large as wild dogs do maim or kill sheep and lambs. 'Wild Dogs' includes Dingoes without specifically mentioning them, of course.
In all states it is legal to lay poison bait and to set traps to kill 'wild dogs' (Dingoes included). In the state of Victoria, for example, in 2021, 683 'wild dogs' were killed by trapping and 'incidental' shooting. Recreational hunting accounted for another 693 'wild dogs' reportedly killed in exchange for a $120.- bounty for their pelts. Additionally, an unknown number died of either intentional or incidental poisoning and of course, there is the possibilty, or likelyhood even, of unreported kills as well. All that in response to the killing of 1249 lamb or sheep in the same period. The statewide flock size in Victoria during the year averaged around 22 million. The total losses for the year then, amounted to 0.006 per cent of the flock.
Obviously, some farmers are more affected than others and there is no intention to downplay the emotional effect of discovering lambs badly mauled or killed in the paddock but, it is interesting to note that losses are given a valuation in dollars and, that most farmers, and governments for that matter, will only undertake loss mitigating measures for this particular problem that are the least costly. It is now nearly 100 years since the extinction of the Thylacine and it beggars belief that since then, the prevailing attitudes that caused the demise of the Thylacine have not really changed. As a consequence, for our Dingo.... the countdown is on.
Whereas I am loathe to believe that the science behind this wisdom is either flawed or biassed, it does play neatly into the hands of current legislative powers that allow the culling of feral and 'wild dogs' to protect certain farming interests. Dogs are predators and, predators as large as wild dogs do maim or kill sheep and lambs. 'Wild Dogs' includes Dingoes without specifically mentioning them, of course.
In all states it is legal to lay poison bait and to set traps to kill 'wild dogs' (Dingoes included). In the state of Victoria, for example, in 2021, 683 'wild dogs' were killed by trapping and 'incidental' shooting. Recreational hunting accounted for another 693 'wild dogs' reportedly killed in exchange for a $120.- bounty for their pelts. Additionally, an unknown number died of either intentional or incidental poisoning and of course, there is the possibilty, or likelyhood even, of unreported kills as well. All that in response to the killing of 1249 lamb or sheep in the same period. The statewide flock size in Victoria during the year averaged around 22 million. The total losses for the year then, amounted to 0.006 per cent of the flock.
Obviously, some farmers are more affected than others and there is no intention to downplay the emotional effect of discovering lambs badly mauled or killed in the paddock but, it is interesting to note that losses are given a valuation in dollars and, that most farmers, and governments for that matter, will only undertake loss mitigating measures for this particular problem that are the least costly. It is now nearly 100 years since the extinction of the Thylacine and it beggars belief that since then, the prevailing attitudes that caused the demise of the Thylacine have not really changed. As a consequence, for our Dingo.... the countdown is on.
The above is adapted from an article by Ella Archibald -Binge and Kirsten Robb for ABC's 7.30
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-15/videos-show-animals-being-trapped-and-killed-dogs-or-dingoes/101640614?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-15/videos-show-animals-being-trapped-and-killed-dogs-or-dingoes/101640614?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web
For other information on this subject, see:
https://www.sciencealert.com/australia-says-it-has-a-wild-dog-problem-but-99-are-actually-dingoes-study-shows
and
Robley, A., Ramsey, D.S.L. and Woodford, L. (2018). Estimating population changes in wild dogs, feral cats and foxes in relation to an aerial baiting operation in eastern Victoria. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series No. 292. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Heidelberg, Victoria.
https://www.sciencealert.com/australia-says-it-has-a-wild-dog-problem-but-99-are-actually-dingoes-study-shows
and
Robley, A., Ramsey, D.S.L. and Woodford, L. (2018). Estimating population changes in wild dogs, feral cats and foxes in relation to an aerial baiting operation in eastern Victoria. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series No. 292. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Heidelberg, Victoria.
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Name:
Taxonomic notes: Statistics: Description: |
Distribution:
Habitats: Habits: Diet: Reproduction: |
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Wild Dog (incl.Dingo) - Canis familiaris
Description: Distribution: Habitats:
Habits:
Diet: Reproduction: |
C 729 - E.Beringen
C 2302 - E.Beringen
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Subspecies:
Abundance: Conservation status: Other names: |
C 2307 - E.Beringen
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C 2305 - E.Beringen
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C 2304 - E.Beringen
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Red Fox - Vulpes vulpes
Description: Distribution: Habitats: Habits:
Diet: Reproduction: |
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Subspecies:
Abundance: Conservation status: Other names: |
Taxonomy:
Phylum: Chordata (Chordates)
> Subphylum: Vertebrata (Vertebrates)
> Class: Mammalia (Mammals)
> Subclass: Theria (Live-bearing Mammals)
> Infraclass: Placentalia (Placental Mammals)
> Superorder: Laurasiatheria (Ungulates, Carnivores and Allies)
> Order: Carnivora (Carnivores)
> Family: Canidae (Canines)
> Genus: Canis
> Species: Canis familiaris - Wild Dog (incl. Dingo)
> Genus: Vulpes
> Species: V. vulpes - Red Fox
References and links:
Strahan, L. (Editor in Chief), (1983), The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife, The Complete Book of Australian Mammals, Angus and Robertson, Melbourne.
Van Dyck, Steve, Gynther, Ian. and Baker, Andrew. (2013) Field Companion to the Mammals of Australia, New Holland Publishers, Chatswood, N.S.W.
Walton, D.W. & Richardson, B.J. (eds), (1989). Fauna of Australia. Vol. 1B Mammalia. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
https://theconversation.com/the-dingo-is-a-true-blue-native-australian-species-111538
https://theconversation.com/dingoes-found-in-new-south-wales-but-were-killing-them-as-wild-dogs-126184
https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2014/04/dingo-declared-a-separate-species/
https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/pest-animals-and-weeds/pest-animals/foxes
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Vulpes_vulpes/
https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/1910ab1d-a019-4ece-aa98-1085e6848271/files/european-red-fox.pdf
Strahan, L. (Editor in Chief), (1983), The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife, The Complete Book of Australian Mammals, Angus and Robertson, Melbourne.
Van Dyck, Steve, Gynther, Ian. and Baker, Andrew. (2013) Field Companion to the Mammals of Australia, New Holland Publishers, Chatswood, N.S.W.
Walton, D.W. & Richardson, B.J. (eds), (1989). Fauna of Australia. Vol. 1B Mammalia. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
https://theconversation.com/the-dingo-is-a-true-blue-native-australian-species-111538
https://theconversation.com/dingoes-found-in-new-south-wales-but-were-killing-them-as-wild-dogs-126184
https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2014/04/dingo-declared-a-separate-species/
https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/pest-animals-and-weeds/pest-animals/foxes
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Vulpes_vulpes/
https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/1910ab1d-a019-4ece-aa98-1085e6848271/files/european-red-fox.pdf
Text:
E. Beringen
E. Beringen
Photographic Contributors:
Beringen, Erik. C 729 - C 2302 - C 2303 - C 2304 - C 2305 - C 2306 - C 2307.
Beringen, Erik. C 729 - C 2302 - C 2303 - C 2304 - C 2305 - C 2306 - C 2307.