Fraser Island dingo cull sparks safety debate after backpacker death
After 19-year-old Piper James died on K’gari (Fraser Island), authorities culled a pack of ten dingoes to address public safety, a move that drew backlash for bypassing the traditional Butchulla owners and for not clearly reducing future risks. Experts warn that the island’s small, genetically isolated dingo population is vulnerable to extinction from mass killings, and past data show no clear safety gains from culling. The piece argues that changing human behavior—securing food, supervising kids, following park guidelines—offers a more reliable path to safety than lethal control.