Abstract

A symposium on the dingo (Canis lupus dingo) was held in Sydney in May 1999 to discuss issues surrounding the conflicting views of the dingo: seen both as a potentially threatened species, and as a species that needs to be controlled because of its predation on livestock. The Symposium was particularly relevant to New South Wales (NSW) because of consideration being given to place the dingo on the schedule of NSW vulnerable species, under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. The potential for conflict was exacerbated by concurrent legislative changes in NSW (Rural Lands Protection Act 1998) requiring the Crown to control pest animals declared under the Act. Despite the obvious focus on the NSW situation, many of the issues discussed have wider relevance to the management and conservation of dingoes across Australia.