14 May 2026
The Conservation Council ACT Region has received confirmation from the ACT Government that Waragul (Dingo) will be culled during the annual Thermally Assisted Aerial Control Program, if encountered. Aerial culls are underway this week across the ACT’s parks and reserves, including in Namadgi National Park.
The information comes following a Government response to a Question on Notice raised by Jo Clay MLA, in which the Government admitted it did not know how many dingoes lived within the ACT borders, nor what a viable population of dingoes would be to ensure the stability of the ecosystem in Namadgi National Park. In a previous Question on Notice, the Minister for City and Government Services confirmed that approximately $500,000 per year is spent on the baiting, trapping and shooting of dingoes. No non-lethal management approaches are currently being used by the ACT Government.
“The ACT Government has indicated that it will soon recognise dingoes as a native species, and create a Controlled Native Species Plan for the animal,” Conservation Council Executive Director Simon Copland said. “In the meantime, however, we continue to cull dingoes at an increasing level, and at great expense, while having no information about the impact this is having on the viability of the species or the impacts on the broader ecosystem.”
“We understand landholder concerns about livestock losses due to dingoes. However, we cannot continue to support mass culling of this species while there has been little to no investment in non-lethal methods. The ACT Government must prioritise investment in non-lethal, evidence-based, management approaches for Waragul as soon as possible.”
With this information in mind, The Conservation Council ACT has called on the Government to exclude dingoes from the Thermally Assisted Aerial Control Program, operating now.
“Finding out that we are continuing to cull dingoes as part of a program designed to target pests is a devastating blow to the conservation of this iconic native species and apex predator,” Dr Copland continued.
“Including Waragul in the aerial culling program undermines the Government’s commitment to delist dingoes as a pest animal and to protect the species as a native species under the Nature Conservation Act.”
“It is shocking that the ACT Government is using taxpayer dollars to kill a native species, in a national park.”
“The Conservation Council is an active supporter of the Thermally Assisted Aerial Control Program to reduce the impacts of harmful invasive species such as feral pigs and deer. However, using this program to cull dingoes is unacceptable.”
In response to correspondence from the Executive Director of the Conservation Council, officials from the City and Environment Directorate stated: “Within the established control zones only, Waragul will be culled during the TAAC if encountered, consistent with the objectives of the current management approach that seeks to mitigate impacts on livestock surrounding Namadgi and Tidbinbilla.”
Genetic analysis conducted by Dr Kylie Cairns in 2024-2025 has confirmed that the dingoes of Namadgi National Park are a genetically distinct population, with no domesticated dog genes.
Media contact:
Dr Simon Copland, Executive Director, director@conservationcouncil.org.au