Holiday horror as a toddler is attacked by a dingo while his family were camping in a national park

Holiday horror as a toddler is attacked by a dingo while his family were camping in a national park



Parks and wildlife rangers have launched an urgent hunt to track down a dingo that attacked a two-year-old boy, leaving him with serious injuries.

The toddler was attacked by the wild dog at Dales Campground in Karijini National Park, outback Western Australia on Friday night.

He was rushed to Tom Price hospital with ‘serious but non-life-threatening injuries’.

The Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions confirmed the attack and that Parks and Wildlife Service rangers are on site preparing to ‘destroy’ the dingo responsible.

‘The safety of visitors is our number one priority,’ the department stated.

‘Due to the aggressive behaviour of the dingo and the fact that it has remained at the campground following the incident, rangers are preparing to humanely destroy the animal as soon as a safe opportunity presents.

‘Dingo attacks are rare in Western Australian national parks and the department is not aware of any similar incident in this area.

Signage (above) throughout Dales Campground in Karijini National Park warns tourists dingo are present and dangerous
Signage (above) throughout Dales Campground in Karijini National Park warns tourists dingo are present and dangerous

‘Anyone who has a dingo encounter in a Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions managed campground or park should report details to park staff or a campground host.’

Dingoes are common at Dales Campground, where signage warns visitors to avoid feeding and interacting with the animals and to supervise children at all times.

Located almost 1,400km north of Perth, Dales Campground is a popular tourist spot for those looking to explore Karijini National Park.

Dales Campground (above) is a popular spot for those looking to explore Karijini National Park
Dales Campground (above) is a popular spot for those looking to explore Karijini National Park
Karijini National Park (above) is a well known scenic spot in outback WA and is famous for its natural swimming holes
Karijini National Park (above) is a well known scenic spot in outback WA and is famous for its natural swimming holes

The park is well known for its layered deep red gorges, waterfalls and natural swimming holes.

The last notable attack in the area was at the Pilbara Newcrest Mining site in 2018 when security guard Debbie Rundle, 54, was mauled to death.

Two dingoes attacked the mother while she was eating lunch at the facility’s outdoor lunch areas.

Newcrest was fined more than $105,000 for the incident.

This article by Ashley Nickel was first published by The Daily Mail on 15 April 2023. Lead Image: Wildlife authorities are preparing to hunt down a dingo (stock image) that seriously injured a child at a popular campground in Western Australia.


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