Canadian Woman Found Dead Among Dingoes on Queensland’s K’gari Island
January 20, 2026
Two campsites on K’gari, formerly Fraser Island, have been closed and park patrols increased after a 19-year-old Canadian woman was found dead surrounded by dingoes on a beach. Two men found her body near the Maheno shipwreck around 6:15am Monday. The woman had left her backpacker hostel about 75 minutes earlier, telling friends she was heading to the beach. Queensland police are investigating but have not said if she drowned or was killed by dingoes. Experts say both could be possible. Bradley Smith, a senior lecturer from Central Queensland University, explained dingoes scavenge beaches at dawn and dusk and have been emboldened by tourists. Around 400,000 people visit K’gari yearly, home to 100-200 dingoes. Many tourists take risks and feed dingoes or take selfies, which experts warn against. Past attacks on visitors have increased in recent years. After a fatal dingo attack in 2001, safety measures like campsite fences, education campaigns, and fines were introduced. However, some fear another cull of dingoes like the one after the 2001 death. State environment minister Deb Frecklington said wildlife patrols are stronger, campsites Maheno and Wahba are closed, and new signs to warn visitors about dingoes are up. She called the death a "heart-breaking tragedy." Police and the environment department continue their investigation.
Read More at Theguardian →
Tags:
Dingoes
Queensland
K'gari
Tourist safety
Animal Attacks
Fraser Island
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