The dingo, also known as a wongari, grabbed the boy when he was walking alone at the water’s edge near a camping area on the island’s west coast on June 16, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) said.
The predator dragged the boy under the water by the shoulder before his 12-year-old sister ran to his rescue.
While the attack has shaken the local community, it’s important to remember “that is not normal dingo behaviour,” QPWS Principal Ranger Danielle Mansfield said.
“At the moment we are seeing an increase in people inadvertently or deliberately feeding animals,” Mansfield said on Today.
“This creates animals who are not wary of people, and they are brazenly going up to adults and children having inappropriate interactions them.
“I can’t stress enough to parents to make sure they stay close within arm’s reach of their children.”
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Mansfield said parents should never let their children play alone in areas known to be visited by potentially dangerous wildlife and remain vigilant around the storage of food.
”We need people to look out for one another and make sure that they do not leave any food or anything that is going to attract dingos to their area, and not allow the animals to come up and interact with people,” she said.
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“It’s important that people don’t run, they remain calm and yell out for help or – we are asking people also to have a stick with them also to stay in groups.”
The family treated the 10-year-old boy for puncture wounds to his shoulder and arms, and scratches and bruises on his collar bone and arm.
Rangers have since chased the animal away and have increased patrols in the area.
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