Dingoes Kill Boy, Maul Another

B R I S B A N E, Australia, April 30 -- A 9-year-old Australian boy was killed and his seven-year-old brother injured today when they were attacked by two wild dogs on Fraser Island off Australia's northeast coast.

The native Australian wild dogs, or dingoes, attacked theolder boy as he walked with a friend away from their familycampsites at Waddy Point on the eastern coast of Fraser Island,about 160 miles north of Brisbane, police said.

"It's believed the boys had gone for a walk and they werebeing followed by a couple of dogs. They started to run and thenine-year-old fell over," police said.

The boy's friend then ran back to the campsite and alertedthe victim's father who rushed, with the seven-year-oldbrother, to try to help the older boy.

But they were too late and the younger boy was then alsoattacked, police said.

"The child has multiple bite marks," said a doctor atnearby Hervey Bay hospital.

Police said two dingoes, one male and one female, werefound near where the attack occurred and were destroyed late today.

Too Close for Comfort

The world heritage has listed Fraser Island as home toabout 160 dingoes that are considered the purest breed inAustralia and are protected.

The dingoes share the world's largest sand island withabout 300,000 tourists every year. The visitors have beenblamed for feeding the dogs and encouraging human contact.

"Not so long ago dingoes on Fraser would lurk in bushes,but now they boldly strike through the camp areas," said JohnSinclair from the Fraser Island Defenders Organization.

"People have encouraged dingoes to the point where theyhave entirely lost their fear of humans," Sinclair said.

Dingo Management Procedure

The state Queensland government reviewed its Fraser Islanddingo management procedure in 1999 after a series of dingoattacks, including one on a German tourist and a 13-month-oldbaby. Two English tourists were attacked at Waddy Point in1998.

The plan is due to be implemented in the next few weeks andincludes heavy penalties for feeding dingoes.