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A journal dedicated to conservation and wildlife management in the Pacific region.
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Clever girl? An observation of innovative prey handling by a dingo (Canis dingo)

Linda Behrendorff
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

The University of Queensland, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia. Current address: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Environment and Science, K’gari (Fraser Island), Queensland 4581. Email: linda.behrendorff@des.qld.gov.au

Pacific Conservation Biology 24(2) 194-197 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC17044
Submitted: 16 November 2017  Accepted: 18 February 2018   Published: 3 April 2018

Abstract

Predators often exhibit highly intelligent and adaptable hunting techniques to subdue large prey; however, these events are rarely captured. Here I report an infrequently seen occurrence of a dingo (Canis dingo) utilising waves on the eastern beach of K’gari (Fraser Island) to entrap, tire and deliberately drown an adult swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor). This behaviour highlights an adaptive technique for innovative prey handling by a single dingo to achieve an outcome that would usually take two or more animals under normal conditions.

Additional keywords: Canis lupus dingo, diet, predation, top predator, hunting, Fraser Island


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