Queensland Government officials have confirmed that the dingoes surrounding the body of Piper James on K’gari will be put down.
The body of James, a 19-year-old Canadian backpacker, was found surrounded by a pack of dingoes on K’gari’s Orchid Beach on January 19.
Per 9News, the autopsy of James’ body gave inconclusive results regarding her cause of death, and it was hoped that the findings would confirm whether she’d drowned or been killed by the dingoes.
However, the autopsy showed evidence of fluid in her lungs, but it’s unclear how it entered.
Despite this, Environment Minister Andrew Powell has confirmed that all the dingoes involved will be euthanised, calling it a “tough decision” but “the right call in the public interest”.
“This tragedy has deeply affected Queenslanders and touched the hearts of people around the world,” Powell said.
“I have been kept briefed by my Department throughout this incident. The Department has made the decision that all dingoes involved in the incident will be removed and humanely euthanised.
“This is a tough decision but I believe it’s the right call in the public interest,” he continued.
“K’gari Fraser Island remains open, and we are supporting our tourism operators as they continue to showcase the Fraser Coast as an incredible place to visit.”
A spokesperson for the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation added rangers have “closely monitored” the dingoes involved since James’ death and “observed some with aggressive behaviour”.
“Following the initial autopsy findings, this pack’s involvement in the incident, and observations since, this pack has been deemed an unacceptable public safety risk,” the spokesperson said.
“Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Rangers are currently implementing actions accordingly.
“There is no public safety risk during this process. Dingoes involved in Monday’s incident will be humanely euthanised,” the spokesperson continued.
“Public safety is our top priority, and this decision is informed and in the public interest.”
According to ABC News, the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation — the traditional owner group of K’gari — was not contacted regarding the dingo cull.
“We’ve got a process in place, we didn’t even get consulted,” Director Christine Royan told the publication, adding she was informed of the cull before the public announcement on Sunday and was considering legal action against the government.
“I’m calling on the premier to actually look at the mismanagement of K’gari by Queensland Parks and Wildlife,” she continued.
“This is the beginning of the process, and if it means we have to go and get petitions and we have to bring in the Conservation Act [by which the dingoes] are supposed to be protected — they didn’t have a chance.”
Following the news of the dingo cull, the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation shared a Facebook post, stating it’s a “deeply sad day for the Butchulla people”.
“We recognise the grief and pain this brings, especially given the cultural significance of the wongari to the Butchulla people,” it wrote.
James’ father, Todd James, also shared news of the dingo cull on Facebook, stating it’s “simply sad, heart-wrenching information”.
The family’s statement comes shortly after James’ mother, Angela James, said her daughter loved animals and that a dingo cull would be against her wishes.
“Her father and I would like to stress that [a cull] is the last thing Piper would want,” she said on Saturday, per ABC News.
“She loved all animals, no matter what.”
The family are awaiting the final autopsy results.
Image source: Facebook
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