The Victorian Government announced that, effective from 14 March, the dingo unprotection order will conclude in northwest Victoria following new research, strong advice and the effectiveness of non-lethal dingo control methods to protect livestock.
Farmers in the northwest of the state will be supported by a $550,000 investment to adopt alternate non-lethal control methods via a pilot of measures, such as exclusion fencing and guardian animals. This funding will also support the management of other pests including feral goats, wild pigs and foxes.
In other parts of Victoria, dingo control measures will remain unchanged – giving stability to farmers in need of protecting their livestock. The dingo unprotection order allowed property owners to take lethal action to protect their properties from dingoes and wild dogs within a three kilometre Livestock Protection Buffer.
“The dingo population in north-west Victoria is under threat of extinction, that’s why we’re making these changes to protect an important part of the ecosystem,” said Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos.
The Government’s review into its wild dog management policies will be finalised in the next six months and consider the new research alongside the impacts on livestock. The review was triggered by research from University of New South Wales in Sydney which found that most wild canine species across the country are either pure dingoes or dingo-dominant hybrids (more than 50 per cent dingo genes).
Dingoes play an important role in the ecosystem and the latest Arthur Rylah Institute data shows the dingo population in the northwest is at risk of extinction, with as few as 40 dingoes left.
Whilst dingo numbers are much greater in other parts of the state, they remain a threatened species and are protected under the Wildlife Act.
“We’re backing our farmers with an investment that will protect their livestock while protecting our vulnerable dingo population at the same time,” said Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence.
Where livestock are being significantly impacted and there are no other control options available, all farmers – including those in northwest Victoria – can apply for an Authority to Control Wildlife permit to use lethal control methods.
In light of these changes, the wild dog component of the current Fox and Wild Dog Bounty Program will not continue in the northwest. There will be no changes to the Fox Bounty in the northwest.
Animal protection organisation Animals Australia also launched a challenge to the Order in Council which issued the dingo unprotection order in the Supreme Court in 2023.
