Waragul (Dingoes) / wild dogs
Researchers estimate that the Waragul (Ngunnawal for Dingo) arrived in Australia 5,000 to 8,000 years ago. Waragul are top order predators in Australia and prey on native and introduced species. Waragul can cause serious impacts on farming enterprises through harming livestock, particularly sheep.
In national control frameworks, the ACT Government references wild dogs. This phrase refers to Waragul, feral domestic dogs, and Waragul/ domestic dog hybrids. Current ACT legislation (Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005) also refers to Waragul as wild dogs/ dingoes.
Genetic testing from 2024 and 2025 suggests that the ACT’s population of wild dogs/dingoes is primarily Waragul. There are few Waragul/ domestic dog hybrids in the ACT population. The only time researchers have observed feral domestic dogs involve recently dumped/ escaped dogs. It can be difficult to tell pure Waragul and Waragul that have interbred with domestic dogs apart just by looking at them. This is because they can look and behave the same.
Cultural significance
Waragul hold cultural significance for Ngunnawal people and other Aboriginal communities. In Ngunnawal family groups, members of the community raised Waragul in the company of women and children. Ngunnawal communities used Waragul as:
- an effective hunting aid
- a living blanket
- protection against invaders while men were away for hunting or ceremony.
Aboriginal communities also tracked Waragul migration and footprints. This was to find waterholes and pathways (songlines) across Country to help find food and neighbouring nation groups.
Management policy and methods
The Pest Plants and Animals (Pest Animals) Declaration 2021 declares Waragul as pest animals.
The ACT Pest Animal Management Strategy and Namadgi National Park Plan of Management guide the management of pest animals. Control programs are in place in the ACT to limit impacts on livestock in rural properties.
The impacts of Waragul attacks on livestock greatly affect graziers. Graziers can feel stress and anxiety because of their close bond with their animals. The loss of these animals can harm their mental health. It also means they must spend more money protecting their land. This takes away resources from other farming tasks, adding to their stress.
Losing animals reduces their income because each animal represents money they invested. This leads to lost earnings from breeding or selling those animals in the future.
Due to this, the ACT Government controls Waragul in conservation areas near rural properties. In the core area of Namadgi National Park, conservation of Waragul is the priority and no control occurs.
ACT is a part of 3 cooperative Wild Dog Management plans with neighbouring stakeholders in NSW.
Control methods and effectiveness vary across NSW and ACT. Control methods used include:
- leghold traps
- poisoned baits (1080 sodium fluoroacetate baiting)
- shooting
- exclusion fencing
- guardian animals.
The ACT Government employs a pest animal controller to carry out control in specific areas.
The ACT Government monitors all aspects of Waragul management to ensure the control is:
- delivered efficiently
- cost effective
- carried out humanely.
Research and updates to plans, legislation and management
In 2024-2025, Dr Kylie Cairns from the University of New South Wales conducted genetic analysis. She analysed 50 samples from Waragul in Namadgi using a modern comprehensive genetic test. Of these samples:
- 47 were ‘pure’ Waragul
- 2 had greater than 93% Waragul ancestry
- one sample was a ‘feral dog’, with a small amount (14%) of non-local Waragul genes. This means this animal likely came from outside the ACT.
Analysis of an 20 animals from nearby NSW also showed no hybridisation with domestic dogs.
Researchers will analyse additional samples as they become available.
The ACT Government is committed to recognising Waragul as a unique animal with important cultural and ecological value. Further policy work is underway to:
- deliver a future where we protect Waragul as a native animal under the Nature Conservation Act
- continue to ensure we minimise negative impacts on landholders and stock as far as possible.
To progress these changes the ACT Government will:
- Draft a Controlled Native Species Plan for the Waragul (Dingo) under the Nature Conservation Act 2014.
- Remove the listing of wild dogs/ dingoes as a pest under the Pest Plants and Animals (Pest Animals) Declaration 2021.
In the second half of 2025, the ACT Government will establish a consultative committee to inform this policy reform. The consultative committee will include people from:
- the Ngunnawal community
- ACT and NSW conservation community
- rural lessees community.
While these policy changes take progress existing management programs for Waragul will continue as is.
Scientific groups and academics have different views about Waragul. Research is ongoing about how these animals live and interact with other species. The ACT Government monitors Waragul to support management goals across Namadgi National Park in:
- core (non-control) areas
- the buffer zone where the park is next to rural properties .
Advice for encounters
Incidents of Waragul in Namadgi National Park interacting with people are rare. It is still sensible to take precautions to discourage these animals from becoming less fearful of humans.
If you encounter a Waragul in Namadgi National Park:
- do not approach the animal. You can use binoculars, or your camera zoom if you would like to watch it from a distance
- never feed the animal, even accidentally. Lock up your food stores, packs and eskies, and take all your food scraps and rubbish with you.
In the unlikely event of threatening behaviour:
- stay alert but calm
- do not run or wave your arms because it can trigger an attack
- face the animal, stand still at full height, fold your arms across your chest, and keep eye contact with the animal.
- calmly back away, and if you are with another person, stand back-to-back.