Here is an infographic on the laws on hunting dingoes in Australia with some notes below. By its nature is a strict summary. Please check with the authorities but the general drift is that dingoes are pests in most of Australia and can be shot often for a bounty.
In Australia, the laws regarding hunting dingoes for a bounty vary significantly depending on the state or territory, as dingoes are viewed differently across regions. Here’s an overview of the legal status and bounty systems for hunting dingoes:
1. Queensland
- Dingo Hunting Legal and Bounties Available: Queensland has a history of offering bounties for killing dingoes, especially in rural areas where they are considered a threat to livestock. In some parts of the state, particularly in agricultural regions, dingoes are classified as “wild dogs” and can be legally hunted.
- Bounty System: Some local councils in Queensland still offer bounties for dingo scalps or skins, though this varies depending on the area and the threat posed to livestock. However, conservation efforts have led to calls for stricter regulation and a more balanced approach to managing dingo populations.
2. New South Wales (NSW)
- Dingo Hunting Legal and Bounties Available in Some Areas: In NSW, dingoes are also classified as “wild dogs,” and in agricultural areas, they can be hunted. NSW has a complex relationship with dingoes because in some regions, they are seen as pests, while in others, they are protected.
- Bounty System: Local councils in certain areas of NSW offer bounties for dingoes as part of wild dog control programs. Bounties are usually aimed at minimizing livestock losses.
3. Victoria
- Dingo Hunting Legal in Certain Areas: In Victoria, the status of the dingo depends on where they are located. Dingoes are protected in national parks and some other designated areas but are considered pests in agricultural regions where they can be hunted under specific conditions.
- Bounty System: Victoria offers bounties as part of wild dog control programs in farming areas. However, purebred dingoes are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975 in some parts of the state, making it illegal to hunt them in designated zones.
4. South Australia
- Dingo Hunting Legal in Certain Areas: South Australia classifies dingoes as protected in some regions, particularly north of the dog fence, where they are seen as part of the natural ecosystem. South of the dog fence (closer to agricultural areas), however, dingoes are considered pests and can be legally hunted.
- Bounty System: While bounties are not widely promoted by the state government, there are control programs to manage dingo populations in agricultural regions. Hunting is allowed to protect livestock.
5. Western Australia
- Dingo Hunting Legal: In Western Australia, dingoes are classified as “wild dogs” and are not protected in most areas. Farmers and landowners are encouraged to manage dingo populations to protect livestock, particularly sheep.
- Bounty System: Some local governments in agricultural areas of Western Australia offer bounties for dingo scalps as part of wild dog control programs. However, dingoes are protected in certain national parks and reserves.
6. Northern Territory
- Dingo Hunting Mostly Illegal: Dingoes are considered a protected species under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act in the Northern Territory. It is illegal to hunt or kill dingoes except under special permits, typically granted if they pose a threat to livestock.
- No Bounty System: Due to their protected status, there is no bounty system for dingoes in the Northern Territory.
7. Tasmania
- No Dingoes Present: Tasmania does not have a wild dingo population, so there are no laws or bounties related to dingoes.
Key Considerations:
- Protected vs. Pest Status: In some parts of Australia, particularly around national parks and reserves, dingoes are a protected species. In these areas, it is illegal to hunt them without proper permits.
- Wild Dog Programs: Many regions, especially in Queensland, NSW, and Victoria, use the term “wild dog” to refer to both dingoes and their hybrids with domestic dogs. The laws regulating hunting often target “wild dogs” in general, making it legal to hunt dingoes under this classification.
In summary, dingo hunting is legal in many areas of Australia where they are seen as pests, particularly in agricultural regions, and bounties are offered by some local councils as part of wild dog control programs. However, in regions where dingoes are protected, such as national parks or conservation areas, hunting them is illegal without a special permit.
Story of two domesticated and loved dingoes
The reason why I did some research on the legalities of shooting dingoes in Australia is because there is a very sad story in The Times today about an adored pair of dingoes that were shot dead for a bounty. Often, these major Australian jurisdictions offer bounties for the killing of dingoes because they are so hated by farmers and landowners and are considered pests by and large in the country.
In this instance, a couple of purebred dingoes named Steven and Eulalia were adored and love. They were fully domesticated and part of a vast Homestead in Western Australia called Woolen Station.
They were raised in captivity and adored by David and Frances Pollock. They own a 335,000-acre outback farm. The dingoes were employed to educate people and demonstrate that this predator could coexist in the wild alongside cattle.
Despite their best efforts and their love for their pair of dingoes who appear to have loved each other as well, one day they suddenly disappeared and it is believed that they were killed by hunters chasing the AU$100 bounty local councils pay for dingoes scalps.
On the morning after their disappearance there was no howling. They were found on the side of the road, shot. The bodies had been taken away. It is believed that the gunmen took them.
It is very sad and indeed devastating for people who knew these dingoes. Knew them, loved them and fed them. They were given the freedom to roam freely. That might have been their undoing. That and the fact that dingoes are possibly the most persecuted dogs on Earth. They are shot in their thousands, poison, trapped and even strung from trees in Australia.
In the state where David and Frances live, there has been a bounty system for the killing of dingoes.
Frances Pollock, 35, has started a petition calling for an end to the dingo bounty that she and her husband say is an incentive for hunters. She added that: “The culture in Australia encourages us to persecute dingoes. What we’re asking for is culture change so that hopefully in the future, other dingoes, wild ones, don’t ever have to go through what they would have gone through.
More: Australia’s traditional First Peoples buried pet dingoes
In Western Australia, if a dingo has become a semi-pet dog, fully domesticated, would it be illegal to hunt and kill this dog?
In Western Australia, the legal status of dingoes and whether it is illegal to hunt and kill a fully domesticated dingo (even one that has become a semi-pet) depends on a few factors.
1. Dingoes in General in Western Australia
- Wild Dog Classification: In most parts of Western Australia, dingoes are classified as “wild dogs” and are not protected in agricultural areas, meaning landowners and farmers are permitted to control dingo populations to protect livestock.
- Protected Areas: Dingoes are protected in certain national parks, conservation areas, and other designated zones, where hunting them is illegal.
2. Domesticated or Semi-Domesticated Dingoes
- Domesticated Dingoes: If a dingo has been domesticated and is living as a pet, its legal status would likely be treated differently from a wild dingo. Domesticated animals are generally subject to different laws, especially if they are kept within urban or residential areas.
- In urban areas, hunting and killing any animal, including a dingo, would generally be illegal without proper authorization. Killing a domesticated pet (whether a dingo or another animal) can result in criminal charges, as it would fall under animal cruelty or destruction of property laws, especially if the animal is registered and owned.
- Rural areas might present more complications, but a domesticated dingo that is not causing harm or threatening livestock would likely enjoy protection similar to any other pet.
3. Legal Ownership and Registration
- Ownership of a Dingo as a Pet: Western Australia allows for dingoes to be kept as pets under specific circumstances, provided they are registered and comply with regulations. If a dingo is domesticated and registered as a pet, it would be protected under laws that govern pets, making it illegal for others to hunt or kill it without justification.
- Unregistered Dingoes: If a domesticated dingo is unregistered or living in a semi-wild state, it may not have the same legal protection, particularly in areas where dingoes are seen as a threat to livestock. In rural settings, unregistered animals, even if semi-domesticated, could be treated as wild animals.
4. Animal Cruelty Laws
- Western Australia has strong animal cruelty laws, and killing a domesticated animal or a pet (including a dingo) without just cause would likely be prosecuted under these laws. Penalties for animal cruelty include hefty fines and even imprisonment in serious cases.
5. Livestock Protection Laws
- If a domesticated or semi-pet dingo is seen as a threat to livestock in rural areas, there might be legal grounds to control or kill the animal if it poses a risk. However, this would likely require evidence of the threat, and indiscriminate killing of a registered pet could still result in legal consequences.
In Summary:
If a dingo is fully domesticated and living as a pet in Western Australia, it would generally be illegal to hunt or kill it, especially in urban areas, where it would be protected by both pet ownership laws and animal cruelty regulations. However, in rural or agricultural areas, the situation could be more complex, especially if the dingo is unregistered and perceived as a wild animal. Even in these areas, killing a domesticated dingo could result in legal action, particularly if the dingo is owned and registered by someone.
If you are in a situation involving a domesticated dingo, it’s important to ensure the animal is registered and complies with local laws, as this will offer the strongest legal protection.
More: Has a campfire on Fraser Island, Australia, destroyed the island’s dingoes?
Can you tell the difference in appearance between a dingo and a tan-coloured domestic dog?
Dingoes and tan-colored domestic dogs can look quite similar at first glance, but there are a few key physical characteristics that can help distinguish a dingo from a domestic dog. Here’s a breakdown of their differences in appearance:
1. Overall Body Shape
- Dingo: Dingoes have a leaner, more athletic build, often with a somewhat elongated body and legs. They have a narrower chest and a streamlined, almost wolf-like appearance, built for endurance.
- Domestic Dog: Tan-colored domestic dogs, depending on the breed, can vary greatly in shape. Many breeds may appear stockier or more muscular than dingoes, or they may have a shorter, bulkier build if not as conditioned.
2. Head and Muzzle
- Dingo: Dingoes have a wedge-shaped head with a more elongated, pointed muzzle. Their eyes are almond-shaped and amber or brown, giving them a more focused, wild look.
- Domestic Dog: Depending on the breed, the head shape of domestic dogs can vary greatly. Many breeds have shorter muzzles (e.g., bulldogs) or rounder heads (e.g., labradors). Even domestic dogs with longer muzzles tend to have softer, more rounded facial features compared to dingoes.
3. Ears
- Dingo: Dingoes have erect, triangular ears that are set high on the head and usually point forward. Their ears are relatively large and remain upright at all times.
- Domestic Dog: Many domestic dogs may have floppy ears, partially erect ears, or fully upright ears. Even dogs with erect ears may have ears that are not as consistently sharp and pointed as a dingo’s.
4. Coat and Fur Texture
- Dingo: A dingo’s coat is generally short, dense, and double-layered to protect against the elements. The tan or sandy color is the most common, often with white markings on the chest, paws, and tip of the tail.
- Domestic Dog: The coat of a tan-colored domestic dog can range from short and sleek to long and fluffy, depending on the breed. The texture and density can also vary, and they may have more varied markings compared to the typical white patches of dingoes.
5. Tail
- Dingo: Dingoes have a bushy, low-hanging tail that is usually carried downward, even when relaxed. Their tails have a consistent thickness, sometimes with a white tip.
- Domestic Dog: Domestic dogs’ tails can vary greatly. Some breeds have curled tails (like pugs), while others carry their tails high or may have thinner, less bushy tails compared to a dingo.
6. Behavioral Differences
- Dingo: Dingoes tend to move with a quiet, stealthy gait. They are usually more cautious, wary of humans, and less prone to playful or excitable behaviors common in domestic dogs.
- Domestic Dog: Many domestic dogs are more friendly and approachable, with playful and energetic movements, especially when interacting with humans. Their body language often conveys a more relaxed or affectionate demeanor.
In summary, dingoes have a more streamlined, wild appearance with a lean build, pointed features, and distinctively upright ears, while tan-colored domestic dogs can vary significantly in size, shape, and coat characteristics based on their breed.
