An 11-year study of DNA patterns in Western Australia has shown lethal control of dingoes does not decrease the population’s purity, and is compatible with conservation efforts.
Key points:
- Scientists in WA are examining the DNA of wild dogs culled in the state
- Wild dogs, including dingoes, are declared pests under WA legislation
- An 11-year study of dogs killed in a 6.5 million hectare cell has shown culling dingoes does not accelerate hybridisation
Conducted by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), the study examined genetic changes in 1,207 DNA samples taken from dogs killed in the 6.5-million-hectare Murchison Regional Vermin Cell (MRVC), located east of Geraldton in the Southern Rangelands.
The study aimed to examine if lethal control of dingoes accelerated hybridisation.
The work will be part of an ongoing study of wild dog DNA in WA.
Wild dog predation has taken a heavy economic and emotional toll on livestock producers in the Murchison, with many property owners forced out of small stock production over the past 15 to 20 years.
Nationally, wild dog attacks on livestock cost the Australian economy $89 million annually.
DPIRD uses the term wild dog to describe purebred dingoes, feral or escaped domestic dogs, and their hybrids.
Dingoes and wild domestic dogs are the same species, Canis familiaris.
Researcher Tracey Kreplins began sampling DNA taken from culled dogs in 2009, analysing the 1,207 samples from three periods.
She found no changes in the animals’ genetic characteristics over the 11 years.
“We found 98 per cent of samples were 80 per cent and above pure dingo, and there were no changes in genetic characteristics over the area … they maintained that high level of purity over the entire study period,” Dr Kreplins said.
“There is a theory out there that the more lethal control you conduct on dingoes, you fracture packs apart and accelerate hybridisation.
“This work has disputed that theory in that area because, despite 40-plus years of lethal control within the MRVC, we still have pure dingoes, and during our 11 years of sampling that has not changed.
“You can keep conducting dingo and wild dog control within the MRVC for agricultural and conservation purposes and you will not endanger the conservation of dingoes.”
Dingo the majority
Despite the different appearances of dogs in the Murchison, Dr Kreplins said very few dogs in the area had not tested as predominantly dingo.
“It is really hard to assess how pure a dog is out in the field without taking a DNA sample,” she said.
“You can’t look at an individual and decide if it’s a dingo or a hybrid just by looking at it.
“Fencing appears to be an effective management tool. It definitely reduces gene flow of dingoes and wild dogs, particularly the state barrier fence.”
Dr Kreplins said researchers had been collecting DNA samples from wild dogs across the state, taking a broader look at dingo DNA purity and characteristics and the impact of the state barrier fence.
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