Credited from: CBSNEWS
A 19-year-old Canadian woman was found dead on a popular beach at K'Gari Island, off the Queensland coast, with her body reportedly surrounded by a pack of dingoes. Local police discovered her remains on Monday morning, after witnesses noticed the group of around ten dingoes near the scene, alarming them and prompting an investigation, according to BBC and Reuters.
Inspector Paul Algie commented on the serious nature of the situation, indicating that there were markings on her body consistent with having been "touched and interfered with" by dingoes. He stated, "At this stage it's too early to confirm how the young lady lost her life," emphasizing that police are considering all possibilities, including drowning or an animal attack, according to CBS News and Reuters.
The tragic event took place near a shipwreck, a popular tourist attraction on the island. Algie described the scene as "very traumatic and horrific" for those involved in the discovery. Local officials have noted an increase in aggressive dingo behavior in the area, with reports of rising incidents involving tourists, according to BBC and CBS News.
Despite the danger posed by the wild dogs, which are a protected species in Queensland, local authorities are grappling with how to address increasing human-dingo interactions. Mayor George Seymour warned that, given the number of dingo-related incidents, a fatality was "inevitable." He recalled a past incident where a 23-year-old jogger was attacked by a pack of dingoes, underlining the serious risks presented by these animals, according to CBS News.