Dingo attack fears grow after teen’s death
Rangers have increased patrols at a tourist spot after a teenager’s body was discovered surrounded by a pack of dingoes.
A Canadian backpacker who was found dead on K’gari had been travelling around Australia since November on the trip of a lifetime, it has emerged.
Her father paid tribute on social media to his “kind” daughter.
“We will always remember her infectious laugh and her kind spirit. I admired her strength and determination to go after her dreams,” wrote Todd James, according to Canadian media.
New details suggest evidence of defensive wounds on the Canadian national’s body; however, a cause of death is yet to be determined.
Police confirmed James’ body had markings that indicated she had been “interfered with” by the native animals on the Queensland island, formerly known as Fraser Island.
An autopsy was to be done on Wednesday amid speculation that drowning could be another cause of death.
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James was camping with friends near the Maheno shipwreck on 75 Mile Beach when she decided to go for a swim about 5am Monday. Her body was found about 90 minutes later.
The Courier Mail reports that James — an avid motocross rider — had arrived in Australia from Canada in November with a close friend.
They had travelled up and down Australia’s east coast, visiting Bondi Beach, surfing at Manly, partying with friends in Cairns and sailing the Whitsunday Islands.
Piper James has been remembered by her family as a ‘kind spirit’. Photo: Supplied
Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour feared James was the victim of a dingo attack.
“It looks likely, doesn’t it,” he said.
“It’s just hard to imagine that she drowned and then was on the beach. If she drowned, she might have washed up on the beach days later.
“But to go swimming at 5am and be found at 6am — it does seem more likely [to be dingoes].”
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Warnings of “heightened dingo activity” for the immediate area were issued on December 12 amid reports the wild dogs had been ripping tents, approaching campers and stealing food and property.
The warning remains for the summer holiday period until January 31.
“Rangers are urging visitors to be dingo-safe at all times on K’gari after heightened dingo activity has been recorded at several locations along the eastern beach,” the alert states.
“It is recommended that visitors be extra vigilant in these areas and consider camping in a fenced … camping area.
“Ensure no food or strongly scented items are stored in tents and that all food and rubbish is securely stored in strong lockable containers or vehicles.”
Rangers increased island patrols on Monday following the incident.
“You cannot go over to K’gari without being bombarded with safety messaging about dingoes and about driving, and I think that’s probably saved more lives than we would know over the years,” Seymour said.
“In the end, it is a wilderness. It’s preserved. It’s World Heritage-listed for the natural values, which include dingoes, and it’s why people want to go there – and there are risks with that.”
The last fatal dingo attack was almost 25 years ago.
In April 2001, nine-year-old Clinton Gage was fatally mauled by two dingoes while holidaying on the island.
“In that time, there have been multiple deaths from vehicle rollovers, shark attacks, drownings, so it (dingo attack) is certainly not the most dangerous thing on K’gari,” Seymour said.
Dingoes roam free on K’gari and are a protected native species at the national park.
-with AAP
