Dingo attack forced B.C. teen who drowned into water: Australia coroner
· Toronto Sun
A young British Columbia woman who was on a backpacking trip in Australia drowned after being attacked by a pack of dingoes, an Australian coroner says.
Piper James, 19, was on a backpacking trip and had a job on the island of K’Gari in Australia when she died on Jan. 19 during an early morning walk.
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The Coroners Court of Queensland said James died “as a result of drowning in the setting of multiple injuries, due to, or as a consequence of a dingo attack.”
How she died was determined by Queensland Health’s forensic pathologist.
“The investigation into Piper’s death is ongoing, and no further information can be provided at this time,” a spokesperson for the coroner said.
Body had numerous bite marks
The woman’s body was discovered surrounded by about 10 dingoes — eight have since been put down.
James had a number of “pre-mortem” bite marks, which showed she had been forced into the water by a pack attack.
Her father, Todd James, had told the Australian Associated Press that he believed his daughter did not carry a stick with her to fend off any attacks.
“Maybe some dangerous dingoes saw her as something all by itself, as prey that’s harmed, splashing around, and maybe that got their attention to come out, and then Piper got pushed out into the ocean,” said Todd.
“I’ve heard that that’s kind of how they’ll do (it), they’ll corral their prey so they can’t come out, and they’ll push them out into the water, and unfortunately, wait for them to drown and bring them in.”
Todd said he didn’t believe Piper would’ve wanted any dingoes to be harmed because of her death.
Dingo culling sparked fierce debate
K’Gari is home to an estimated 200 dingoes. They are also known as wongari and are culturally significant to the Butchulla people.
The euthanization of eight dingoes after James’s death sparked a heated debate about how to balance visitor safety with conservation of the endangered species.
There are concerns that killing about 5% of the island’s dingo population would impact the remaining dingoes’ genetic diversity and ongoing viability.
The state government has repeatedly rejected calls for a visitor cap to the island.
By law, dingoes are a protected species. There are harsh fines for anyone who disturbs or harms the animals on the island.
Any visitors are advised to carry a safety stick while walking outside of fenced areas.
— With files from The Canadian Press