Dingoes control feral cats, protecting wildlife in Western Australia
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Nyangumarta Rangers in Western Australia’s Great Sandy Desert are working with Central Queensland University on the Wartaji research project to understand how dingoes impact the local ecosystem.
The project began in 2022, motivated by the Nyangumarta people’s long-held relationship with dingoes and a desire to protect native animals. Researchers are tracking dingo movements and analysing their diets to determine their environmental role.
The research confirms dingoes are actively preying on feral cats, which pose a significant threat to native species like the Greater Bilby and desert mouse. According to the WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, a single feral cat can kill over 700 small animals each year. Rangers have observed feral cats growing larger than typical domestic cats, reaching up to six kilograms in weight.
Recent scat analysis reveals that feral cats now make up nearly 30 percent of the dingoes’ diet. Researchers are currently tracking four dingoes, Venus, Elliot, Carlo, and Robin, using satellite collars to monitor their movements and understand their hunting patterns. The Nyangumarta Rangers see this relationship as a continuation of a reciprocal bond, with dingoes protecting the land in return for care from the people.
