A colony of reputably pure dingoes inhabits Fraser Island, on the southern coast of Queensland, although the population is thought to be in decline. According to Bradley Smith at the University of South Australia, the number one threat to dingoes on the island is being shot by rangers. “It’s tough being a dingo,” Bradley says.

Fraser Island dingoes can not be relocated, because the species is thought to be different from mainland dingoes. Dogs are banned on Fraser Island, to avoid possible cross-breeding.

A female juvenile rests on the beach at Hook Point on Fraser Island. Dingoes are often seen in solitde, although they belong to social groups.

Lyn Whitworth, a volunteer at the Dingo Discovery Centre in Victoria, observes as tests are carried out to investigate dingo behaviour.

A dingo puppy eyes the reward on the other side of the fence during a detour task. Tests were carried out on tame dingoes in the Discovery Centre, for controllability, but Bradley suggests the results would be similar with a wild dingo, if it could be handled.

A dingo is presented with a dynamic proximal pointing gesture during the object choice paradigm. Bradley asked two volunteers at the Discovery Centre to help during testing, because they had previously bonded with the animals.

A male dingo displays battle scars on his face. Bradley says dingoes are “tough to work with, very untrusting and very cautious.”

A dingo puppy actively submits to the adult female by licking her muzzle, displaying part of a complex repertoire of social behaviour apparent in dingoes.

A juvenile female dingo at the Dingo Discovery Centre. Dingoes often climb structures and use as a look-out to survey their surroundings.

This black/tan dingo is one of three colours of Australian species — along with ginger, and white or cream.