Livestock
8 January, 2025
Wimmera farmers urged to protect livestock while honouring dingo laws
Advocate warns dingoes are trekking further afield for water this dry summer.
As dry conditions grip the Wimmera region, thirsty dingoes are venturing beyond park boundaries in search of water, raising complex legal and ecological questions for locals and livestock owners.
Wimmera Dingo advocate and founder of Big Desert Dingo Research, Ellishia Martion, urged locals to be aware of legal means to protect livestock.
"This natural behaviour could increase [dingoes] visibility in areas beyond park boundaries, making it critical for the public and livestock producers to understand the legal and ecological implications of any harm caused to these animals," she said.
"The increased likelihood of dingoes venturing onto private land in search of water underscores the need for careful management and preventative measures to protect livestock while adhering to legal requirements and conservation principles."
As dingoes adapt to the challenges of a changing climate, rural communities must navigate the delicate balance between protecting livestock and conserving a threatened species that plays a crucial role in Australia's ecosystems.
In March 2024, the Victorian government concluded the dingo unprotection order in North West Victoria.
The order excluded dingoes from the protections they would have been afforded under the Wildlife Act 1975, an offence to take or kill a threatened species, including dingoes, without authorisation.
"As they are classified as a threatened species, the penalties for harming or killing them are significantly higher," Ms Martion said.
"It is essential that people respect these protections and understand the severe consequences of any harm caused to these animals."
In its advice to farmers, Agriculture Victoria said that there is increasing DNA evidence in North West Victoria to indicate most animals previously thought to be wild dogs are dingoes.
Land managers are also urged to assume that anything previously considered a wild dog is a protected dingo.
Agriculture Victoria suggests exclusion fencing, changed stock management plans and guardian animals as three non-lethal control methods livestock owners can employ, while trail cameras are also useful tools.