Predators intersect: dingoes, wedgies, and humans

Abstract

This photo shows two wedge-tailed eagles (<i>Aquila audax</i>) feasting on a freshly killed dingo (<i>Canis lupus dingo</i>) in the Australian outback. Dingoes have been Australia's largest terrestrial predator since their arrival 3000-4000 years ago and since the thylacine (<i>Thylacinus cynocephalus</i>) went extinct on mainland Australia around 2000 years ago. Today, humans persecute dingoes: more than 5600 km of exclusion fence runs through Australia to keep dingoes out of farmland. And even on the other side of the "dog fence", dingoes are shot or poisoned if they are likely to impact livestock.