Dad says teen wouldn’t want to see dingoes culled

A Canadian backpacker found dead on an Australian beach surrounded by a pack of dingoes underestimates the danger of the island predator, his family says.

Piper James, 19, was working on K’gari, formerly Fraser Island, in Queensland, when she went splashing in the waves in the early morning hours of January 19.

His body was found a short time later surrounded by dingoes near the wreck of the SS Maheno, a popular tourist destination.

The autopsy revealed the most likely cause of death was drowning, but also revealed evidence of “antemortem” dingo bites.

The government’s response was swift; Six dingoes were destroyed over the weekend and more animals showing “aggressive behavior” will be culled in the coming days.

The teenager’s father, Todd James, thinks Piper made a mistake by not carrying a stick for protection when she was alone on the beach.

Tourists are warned not to run, not to walk alone and to always carry a dingo safety stick (a long, sturdy object such as a fishing rod, walking stick or PVC pipe) to deter dingoes.

Mr James told AAP: “Perhaps some dangerous dingoes may have seen him as his own thing, prey that got damaged, jumped around, and maybe that caught their attention and made him come out and then Piper was pushed into the ocean.”

“I’ve heard they’ll do this; they’ll surround their prey so they can’t get out, push them into the water, and unfortunately wait for them to drown and then bring them in.

“We’ll never know, and that’s the hardest part.”

It was the tragic end to a dream holiday for the teenager who fell in love with the pristine white sandy beaches of K’Gari.

“He loved it there, he loved the beauty he found,” Mr. James said.

“We were worried he might try not to come home. He loved Australia, he loved the people.”

Mr James said his daughter and her friend Taylor, who joined him on the backpacking adventure, had been warned not to swim in K’gari but were not afraid of the island’s dingo population.

“Piper and Taylor would go down to the beach every night and light a fire and play music like they were playing guitar,” he said.

“They never use sticks. One of the men said that if the dogs came near you and you threw sand in their faces, they would run away.

“You didn’t have to worry about them; that was the culture; you really didn’t have to worry.”

Mr James said confirmation that the dingo cull was continuing was “heartbreaking” but it would make the island a safer place to visit.

“We never wanted any animals to be harmed. We never wanted dingoes to be culled, and I don’t think Piper would support the euthanization or euthanization of any animal because he made the mistake of putting himself in that vulnerable position,” he said.

“But at the same time, to be honest, I realize that maybe that herd should have been euthanized for the safety of the island, but not because of Piper, but because of the way they were behaving.”

As the family continues to grapple with their heartbreaking loss, plans are being made to travel to the island for a traditional smoking ceremony with K’gari’s Butchulla Indigenous people.

“I was lucky to have him. I always wanted to be a father. Now how do you find a way where you’re not a father?” Mr. James said.

“I know Piper looks down and wants her mom and dad to hold each other tight and be there for each other, and that’s what we’re going to do.”