About Us

The NDPRP has made a number of significant interventions and has been involved in a number of initiatives to advance the cause of dingo conservation.

1. After having been a key stakeholder in the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment Dingo Working Group throughout 2009, the NDPRP continued to lobby the Victorian government in the attempt to ensure as good an outcome as possible from the listing of the dingo as a threatened native taxon in that state. During 2010 and 2011, the NDPRP continued to submit position statements to DSE in relation to the listing, particularly in relation to the Dingo Threatened Species Action Statement, which continued to be redrafted throughout 2011. At one point, the NDPRP submitted a wholesale rewriting of the DSE draft statement in an attempt to give it real practical potential. (The Action Statement is the document that identifies threats to the state’s dingo population and measures to address the threats - the final version, as yet, has not been released by DSE)

2. A key aim of the NDPRP in lobbying DSE over the action statement was to include the possibility of protection for hybrids under the threatened species listing. Independent legal advice was sought from the Environmental Defenders Office on the inclusion of hybrids for protection under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. This advice indicated that, legally, the issue was certainly not black and white, and the potential exited for the protection of at least some classes of hybrid. Our independent advice challenged DSE’s claim that their internal legal advice was that hybrids could not be legally protected. A Freedom of Information legislation application for a copy of this internal advice was rejected by DSE, which suggests they may not want it subject to independent scrutiny.

3. Throughout 2010-2011, the NDPRP developed a strong working relationship with the Wilderness Society, which in turn helped to establish links with a number of other conservation organisations in Victoria. At one point, this relationship with the Wilderness Society made possible a joint statement to the Victorian Environment Minister supporting a strong and meaningful outcome from the dingo threatened species listing. The signatory organisations were:

The Wildness Society

Environment Victoria

Help for Wildlife

The Foundation for Australia’s Endangered Species, and of course,

The Humane Society International, as well as,

Also, throughout this period, the NDPRP has maintained a good working relationship with the Humane Society International (a founding organisation of the NDPRP), having had input into the Human Society’s initiative to lodge a threatened species nomination under federal legislation.

4. During this period, the NDPRP has had a significant impact in helping to raise the profile of dingo conservation. It is an organisation which the mass media come to for comment on the issue of dingo conservation. As a result, Ian Gunn has been interviewed on radio on numerous occasions. For example, the Recovery Program was recently approached to make comment on the state of dingo conservation in Australia by journalists compiling an article for the New York Times, and was cited in that article. At other times the Recovery Program has actively intervened to correct unfavourable and inaccurate accounts of the nature of the dingo in the public domain. This has occurred with mischievous local newspapers that have represented the dingo as a risk to local residents.

5. The NDPRP has also responded to unwarranted threats to the reputation of the dingo at the national level, as with the recent attempt by the Chamberlains’ to depict the dingo as a dangerous animal. In the latter instance, the Recovery Program lodged two detailed submissions with the Northern Territory Coroner, highlighting the false claims of the Chamberlain’ lawyer concerning the number of alleged child deaths from dingo attack, and in relation to the flawed nature of the data collected by the Queensland DERM which was used as ‘new’ evidence of dingo aggression.

6. A particular strength of the NDPRP, from the very outset, has been its intention to bring together people from different backgrounds who are concerned to protect the dingo. In particular, it set out to bring together dingo conservation organisations with scientists and other experts with specialist knowledge relevant to dingo conservation. At the moment, we have as scientific advisors Dr Brad Purcell, Dr Arian Wallach, and Adam O’Neill. Until his untimely death, of course, we had Dr Allan Wilton. Alan’s untimely death represented a great loss on many levels. His expertise on dingo genetics and his willingness to contribute to the advancement of dingo conservation will be greatly missed. In addition, he was just a very nice person – pleasant, helpful and thoughtful. The Recovery Program is very indebted to him.

We also appreciate the invaluable contribution of Dr Ian Gunn, the first President of the Recovery Program and current committee member. The involvement of such experts has given the Recovery program real strength and has set it apart as a serious organisation, to be both respected and contended with.

7. With the affiliation of the Save the Fraser Island Dingo (SFID Inc.) organisation, the geographic reach, depth of talent, and energy of the NDPRP has been greatly enhanced. Dating back to April 2011, SFID and the Recovery Program have worked very successfully together around issues relating to the poor management of the dingoes on Fraser Island. At that time, the NDPRP was invited to participate in a meeting between SFID and the DERM. Much more recently, the NDPRP has worked very closely with SFID in the lead up to the recent QLD state election. SFID’s efforts in exposing DERM’s mismanagement have been very effective, resulting in a public commitment by the new QLD government to an independent review of the current dingo management strategy. It is no accident that members of SFID will take on a greater role in the Recovery Program management committee from this point. I believe that the committee will be greatly energised by this involvement.

 The Recovery Program is continuing to attract people of talent and energy and is well positioned to play a key role in the conservation of the dingo in the coming period.