A retiree has been forced to wade into the water to dodge a pack of dingoes on the Queensland island of K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island.
Fisherman David Prain, 74, was forced into waist-deep water amid a stand-off with four of the animals.
“I was a bit anxious for my safety,” he said.
“I knew I couldn’t get to my car in time. I tried to increase my walking a little bit but I noticed once I did that the dingoes started to lope.”
They took off after a few minutes, he said.
Wildlife officials recently closed some popular camping sites on the tourist island closed for safety reasons due to a spike in aggressive dingo behaviour.
Zones three, four and five, between Poyungan Rocks and The Pinnacles, will remain shut until December.”
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“Campers already camping in these zones will be permitted to stay at their sites until 17 August, after this date campers will need to move to a different camping area,” Queensland’s National Parks and Wildlife Service said in a statement.
“These campsites will remain closed during the September school holidays.
“There are plenty of alternative camping areas available.”
Visitors are also being warned not to prepare food or even sunbake at the Eli Creek and lakeshores areas of the island after “a number of high-risk interactions between visitors and dingoes”.
One of the animals was euthanised.
Last Thursday, another two women were bitten in separate incidents.
The spate of recent vicious attacks hasn’t kept visitors away, with a queue of four-wheel drives heading over to K’Gari on Saturday.
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