Dingo (Canis lupus dingo)

Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae

IUCN Red List: VU (Vulnerable)

Habitat

Australia

Information

Diet: They primarily hunt marsupials, but also consume birds and reptiles.

Dingoes are considered to be feral domestic dogs that were brought to Australia by humans thousands of years ago. They are typically impossible to domesticate and do not enjoy human company.

Since most of their prey animals are nocturnal, dingoes also hunt at night. Sheep represent easy prey for them, which is why they have earned the nickname “the executioners” of sheep flocks. They hunt smaller prey alone, but for larger prey, they attack in pairs or groups. The pack is led by a dominant pair. If the pack kills more prey than can be consumed at once, they bury the leftovers and return for them later.

Dingoes can easily interbreed with domestic dogs. They reach sexual maturity at two years of age. Pups are born in a hidden den; if danger threatens, the mother carries them to a safer location. The pups grow rapidly, and both parents care for them. The parents teach the pups how to hunt by placing killed prey nearby, encouraging the pups to “hunt” and process the food themselves.