Management of endangered populations of dingoes in north-eastern NSW
The conservation of dingoes in NSW is hampered by a lack of knowledge of the location of remnant dingo populations and their genetic purity. NPWS identifies loss of habitat, genetic dilution through hybridisation with domestic dog genes and declaration as a pest animal as the key processes threatening remnant dingo populations.
Dingoes originally occurred throughout NSW but today populations of wild dogs, including dingoes occur mainly in the east of the state on public and private lands along the Great Dividing Range and coastal hinterlands. Wild dogs, including dingoes, are declared as a pest animal throughout NSW under the Rural Lands Protection Board Act. NPWS seeks to find a balance between conserving dingoes and controlling dingoes in areas where they impact on livestock.
NPWS have identified 113 reserves as important for the conservation of dingoes. These Dingo Management Areas (DMA) are listed in Schedule 2 of the RLPB Pest Control Order for Wild Dogs. NPWS aim is to conserve dingoes within these identified DMA’s.
NPWS in northeast NSW has been actively surveying dingo and wild dog populations in an effort to determine the conservation status of dingoes within its reserves. Pure dingoes have been recorded in New England NP, Guy Fawkes River NP, Cathedral Rock NP, Limeburners Creek NR, and Myall Lakes NP. Pure dingoes comprise approximately 20% of the general wild dog population and occur in locations that also contain dingo hybrids. Conservation of dingoes in an environment where they are also a declared pest species is a significant challenge. Maintenance of dingo pack structure within DMA’s is seen as important to minimize further hybridization and reduce predation impacts on neighbouring livestock operations.