Insects for breakfast and whales for dinner: the diet and body condition of dingoes on Fraser Island (K’gari)

Dingoes on Fraser Island (K’gari) exhibit excellent physical condition and a diverse diet, contradicting claims of starvation or poor health. Analysis of scat samples, stomach contents, and trail camera footage from 2001 to 2015 revealed that dingoes primarily consume medium-sized mammals like bandicoots, fish, and stranded marine fauna such as turtles and whales, with minimal reliance on human-sourced food. Body weights exceeded national averages, body condition scores indicated ideal-heavy physical health, and parasite loads were low. These findings challenge the need for human subsidies to improve dingo health, suggesting their diet and condition are robust and stable.

Behrendorff, L., Leung, L. K.-P., McKinnon, A., Hanger, J., Belonje, G., Tapply, J., Jones, D., & Allen, B. L. (2016). Insects for breakfast and whales for dinner: the diet and body condition of dingoes on Fraser Island (K’gari). Scientific Reports, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep23469