Mum praised for bravery in fighting off dingo after attack on son at Karijini National Park
A mother has been praised for her bravery after fighting off a dingo that attacked and injured her two-year-old son at Karijini National Park as the wild animal remains “at large”.
The boy sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries when set upon by the dingo about 7pm on Friday at Dales Campground, about 100km east of Tom Price in the Pilbara.
He has since been released from Tom Price Hospital, the WA Country Health Service said on Sunday.
Premier Mark McGowan told reporters that was “great news” as he praised the boy’s mother for her bravery.
“His mother courageously fought off the dingo so she deserves our congratulations and she’s obviously a very brave person,” he said on Sunday.
Mr McGowan said dingo attacks were very rare and the advice from park rangers was that the animal in question, when found, would be destroyed.
Parks and Wildlife Department rangers spent Saturday and Sunday trying to find and trap the wild dog but were unsuccessful.
“The dingo that attacked a toddler at Dales Campground in Karijini National Park on Friday evening was not seen by rangers during patrols on Saturday or Sunday and remains at large,” a statement on Sunday said.
“Rangers were required to leave Dales Campground Sunday afternoon to attend a separate, unrelated incident within Karijini National Park.”
The incident related to the rescue of a woman in her 40s who had slid at Handrail Pool and injured herself. She was taken to Tom Price Hospital.
Meanwhile, a Parks and Wildlife spokeswoman said “the campground hosts at Dales Campground are continuing to greet new arrivals, provide information to them about dingo safety and advise them to report any dingo sightings”.
“Parks and Wildlife Service rangers will continue to maintain a presence at Dales Campground over coming days to ensure campers are aware of the dingo risk and to continue to patrol for problem dingoes,” she said.
The department wasn’t aware of another attack in that part of Karijini, a rugged national park half the size of Sydney.
“Signage and information at Dales Campground warns visitors that dingoes may be present and provides dingo safety advice,” it said.
The local government in the coastal town of Karratha last month warned visitors dingoes were frequently seen in Karijini and other popular national parks, and the animals may raid rubbish bags and take food from picnic tables.
“While searching for food or water dingoes may harass and intimidate people,” the City of Karratha said.
Source: News
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