Dingoes are Australia’s wild dogs, and it’s just as hard to imagine the native Australian bush lacking these tawny canines as it is to imagine it without koala bears or kangaroos. A medium-sized dog, the dingo belongs to a primitive variety of canines that breed only once a year. Puppies are born in the spring, usually in litters of three to five. You’ll rarely hear a dingo bark, but they do make many different kinds of vocalizations. In some ways they are more like cats than dogs in that they are extremely agile, enjoy viewing their surroundings from a high vantage point, and will use their paws almost like hands. Although primarily carnivorous, dingoes will also eat insects and plants when the need arises.
A great place to view these magical creatures is at the Dingo Sanctuary at Bargo, just outside of Sydney. Run by the Australian Native Dog Conservation Society, this sanctuary is home to over forty dingoes. The Society works to protect the dingo in the wild and is also working on a DNA test to help distinguish true dingoes from similar looking mix breeds and hybrids.
The facility welcomes visitors, but does require that you contact them ahead of time to arrange a guided tour. Helpful tour guides show you around the property, introduce you to the dingoes, answer any questions you might have, and can also arrange a video presentation as well. The grounds are a beautiful example of natural Australian fauna, and provide a lovely, natural home for the dogs. All trails are flat and easily accessible for those with limited mobility. A shop is available for souvenirs and cold drinks, and visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch – gas barbecues are provided.
For those that would like to take a dingo home with them, the Society offers dingo sponsorships where donors can sponsor a particular animal and receive regular updates on their animal’s activities.
