Reimagining the dingo: The ‘Australian wolf’ or just a feral dog?

The continent of Australia is home to the dingo (Canis dingo Meyer, 1793), a free-ranging member of the genus Canis. Affectionately known as the ‘king of the Australian bush’, the dingo is the largest extant mammalian predator (other than humans) in Australia. Yet, at an average of 16kg (range 10–25kg) and standing approximately 55cm to the shoulder, they are relatively small for an apex predator. The quintessential dingo is lean with short fur, has erect ears atop a broad head, fluffy tail and is often yellow or ginger in colour with white points on its toes, feet and tail (Smith 2015). However, coat colours and white patches of pure dingoes vary considerably, including sandy white/cream, black and tan, and everything in between (Fig 15.1; Cairns et al 2021a). The dingo is a highly adaptable and resilient predator. It is: present across the entire mainland and occupies all habitat types of Australia; lives in strict social hierarchies and exhibits complex communication; is highly territorial, with a home range that varies greatly depending on the region; and is a generalist and opportunistic hunter that kills and eats a variety of prey, including species much larger than itself (eg kangaroos, Macropus spp.). Due to the threat it may pose to livestock (Fleming et al 2001), the dingo is considered a pest species across much of its range and remains unprotected in many regions and jurisdictions of Australia. Historical and ongoing persecution by humans, primarily in urban and agricultural areas, remains the dingo’s biggest threat, and is likely a leading cause of hybridisation events with domestic dogs (Cairns et al 2021b).