A disturbing discovery has been made on a popular tourist island in Queensland, where a protected native animal was found deliberately decapitated.
The world heritage-listed K’gari Island, north of Waddy Point, was where park rangers came across the dead dingo on June 1 at Ngkala Rocks.
Initially, it was believed the dingo had been hit and killed by a car.
However, a further investigation revealed the shocking truth – the protected animal had been deliberately decapitated.
Independent Veterinary Examination Confirms Findings
An independent veterinary examination confirmed the rangers’ findings, and now the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) is investigating the dingo’s death.
Authorities are urging anyone who visited the Orchid Beach and Waddy Point area between late May and early June, or has dashcam footage, to come forward and contact DETSI.
Dingoes Are Protected in Queensland National Parks
Dingoes are protected in Queensland National Parks as a native species under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
The maximum penalty for wilfully killing a protected animal on K’gari is $483,900 or two years imprisonment.
The same penalty applies to the taking of parts of a deceased protected animal from K’gari.
Rangers Urge Caution on Beach Driving
Rangers on K’gari are also warning people to drive cautiously on the beach, following recent deaths of dingoes due to suspected vehicle strikes.