OPEN LETTER..To: The Hon Kate Jones, MP
Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability.
GPO Box 2454
Brisbane Qld. 4001
Dear Ms. Jones,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. The demise of the dingo is inevitable if the Queensland Government continues to ignore the concerns of SFID, residents, scientists and researchers.The practice of ear tagging puppies under 12 months of age has been determined by “best science” ...”to be detrimental to the pack and to the survival of the animal” (1)(1) Ref.(Dr Ian M Gunn, BVSc. President of the National Dingo Preservation and Recovery Program (NDPRP) Honorary Associate – Dept of Physiology, Monash University,. Immunology and Stem Cell Labs. Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.Dr John Kingston, B.V.Sc. B Pharm. Dip Envir St. Dip.Ag Econ. Dip.Reg.Econ. Dev.Dr Ernest Healy. Senior Research Fellow at Monash University. PhD in the Dept. of Anthropology and Sociology. Dip Art and Design 1976. Dip Ed. 1978; BA 1986 BEd 1987 (La Trobe University Melbourne) BA Hons 1989. President Dingo Care Network.http://archive.ilmb.gov.bc.ca/risc/pubs/tebiodiv/live-animal/captml11-02.htm
pdf file: RES004 Marking of Pest Animals used in Research. Date of Issue: 21/02/2007 NSW. Dept of Primary Industries.)
Tags cause infections and deformed ears, and are totally inappropriate as a form of identification. In addition, it is unreasonable to expect a tourist to remember the colour code and correctly recognise an animal when reporting an 'incident.”If, as you claim, juveniles are the main cause of these “incidents” then this confirms that the social structure of the family group has broken down leading to undisciplined behaviour by these younger animals. It also leads SFID to believe you are currently culling puppies. This is not acceptable.Research has determined that lethal control (culling) causes pack disintegration which can lead to aggressive and dangerous behaviour:(2)Ref.(Wallach, AD. Ritchie EG. Read J. O’Neill AJ 2009 More than Mere Numbers:The Impact of Lethal Control on the Social Stability of a Top-Order Predator. Plos ONE 4(9):e6861. Doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006861)Regardless of this research the Government continues to employ a strategy of “seek and destroy” after any dingo/tourist encounter, notwithstanding the circumstances of this encounter. Scientific studies consider culling as neither acceptable or desirable for the long term survival of the species. (2).Research has also proven that hazing (firing a clay marble from a slingshot) causes animals to become more aggressive towards humans.(3) Hazing and aversive conditioning can essentially “lower the animals tolerance of humans within their territory” especially in a contained habitat such as Fraser Island where human contact is inevitable.(3)(3)Ref(Journal of Wildlife Management 74(1):48-54:2010:DOi:10.2193/2008-16)
Why does the Government therefore continue this cruel and inhumane practice despite best scientific research? (3)Electric collars are another issue of significant concern. Notwithstanding the acute pain and fear the animals experience, it can impact upon an animal’s health, well-being and overall survival and cause abnormal behaviour, for example, aggression towards humans. When a collar becomes defective, the result can cause severe burns eventuating in serious physical injury. This is not acceptable. (4)(4)Ref.(Training dogs with help of the shock collar:Short and long term behavioural effects. Malthijs H H> Schilder a.b.
Joanne A.M. Van der Borg AA Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, University of Utrecct, Utrecht. The Netherlands B Department of Ethology and Socio-Ecology, University of Utrect. Utrecht. The Netherlands. 23 October 2003.
Assessment of Shock Collars as Non-lethal Management for Wolves in Wisconsin Jason E Hawley. Thomas M Gelving.)These strategies are seemingly at odds with the Government’s published definition of dingoes as “wild native animals” and/or a “natural feature” of Fraser Island and of DERM's policy of “interfering with them as little as possible.”It can therefore only be assumed that much emphasis is placed on dingo control and management and not enough on tourism control and management.DERM continues to employ these archaic and ineffective practices and by not considering the social stability of this keystone species they are jeopardizing the long term survival of the Fraser Island Dingo. DERM’s constant interference has changed the nature of these once “shy” and “timid” animals, and it is time the Government took responsibility and stopped blaming the public, visitors and residents for problems these policies have created.WE CALL UPON the Government to immediately conduct a review of the current Fraser Island Dingo Management Strategy. This review must be unbiased and be conducted by independent scientists, researches and stakeholders.The latest scientific research in Australia has been made available to you as demonstrated in the 71 public submissions submitted to your department, but 47 of these were categorised to receive a standard response without any consideration of the content, 20 contained a standard response with some additional comments and only four received a personal response.You have failed to utilize these submissions and chosen to ignore all research that is not commissioned by your government.You continue to destroy the Butchulla peoples totem and ignore their heritage and knowledge and in so doing will ultimately cause the extinction of the last pure strain of dingo in Australia.WE CALL UPON THE GOVERNMENT to reply to this letter within fourteen days, indicating that an independent review is to take place. Save Fraser Island Dingoes Inc (SFID) is dedicated to the preservation and protection of the Fraser Island dingo. We will continue with all and any remedies that are available at Law until such time as an independent review is conducted and an Island Management Plan is implemented that will ensure the future of the Fraser Island Dingo..
Yours faithfully,
Save Fraser Island Dingoes inc. (SFID)
