DINGOES will patrol areas of Eynesbury as part of an Australian-first project to try and ward off feral cats and foxes.
Native wildlife and plants in the town’s 288ha grey box forest are struggling to survive because of plagues of pests.
But rather than lay baits to rid the forest of vermin, conservationists are turning to dingoes to help solve the problem.
Two young dingoes from Toolern Vale’s Dingo Discovery Centre will move into a 10ha fenced area of the forest in the coming weeks, where it is hoped they will scare off predators.
The dingoes, named Austin and Aayla, will be let out of their pen by a volunteer to roam the enclosure twice each day, patrolling fence lines, catching pests and marking their territory.
The fenced-off area will be gradually extended until the whole forest is protected.
The Working Dingoes Saving Wildlife project is a joint venture between the Australian Dingo Foundation and Aus Eco Solutions.
Aus Eco Solutions field co-ordinator and Eynesbury woodlands environmental programs manager, Shakira Todd (pictured), said research suggested dingoes not only killed cats and foxes, but also induced avoidance behaviours, meaning pests would avoid areas where dingoes were.
“Once pest species are down to a manageable level in this test site, the size of the dingo enclosure will grow and native species such as bandicoots, bettongs and quolls will be reintroduced into the area,” Ms Todd said. She said the Eynesbury community had been supportive of the concept.
Dingo Discovery Centre owner Lyn Watson said it would be a proud moment to see the animals roaming the land once more.
“This project is the first of its kind in Australia and it’s almost like we have come full circle,” Ms Watson said.
“Dingoes used to roam these lands many years ago and now they have come back to restore the forest to its former glory.”
Mrs Watson said she was confident the project would a success and hoped it could be replicated in fenced reserves across Australia..
Construction of the fence will begin soon, with the dingoes to move in shortly after.
Donations of time, money or materials for the project, sponsoring the dingoes and volunteers to become caretakers are needed.
There will be a fundraiser at the Toolern Vale centre on Saturday. Tickets: dingodiscovery.net
For details about the project call 0466 157 494 or go to the Working Dingoes Saving Wildlife Facebook page.