The Butchulla people, the traditional custodians of K’gari (Fraser Island), have expressed deep anger and profound disappointment after learning—through media reports rather than direct consultation—that the dingoes involved in the tragic incident surrounding 17-year-old Piper James’ death are to be euthanised. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) announced the decision to cull the animals deemed an “unacceptable safety risk” following a serious safety review, but the complete lack of prior notification to the traditional owners has been described as a cultural insult and a breach of respect.

Piper James, a young tourist from Queensland, died on K’gari in late December 2025 after being attacked by a dingo while camping with friends. The incident, one of the most serious dingo-related events on the island in recent years, triggered immediate investigations and heightened public concern about visitor safety. QPWS confirmed that several dingoes had been involved in or present at the fatal encounter. After a risk assessment, authorities classified them as high-risk and decided on lethal removal to prevent further incidents.

The Butchulla, however, were not consulted before the decision was made public. Elders and community leaders learned of the planned culling through news outlets and social media, prompting immediate statements of outrage. Butchulla representative Aunty Alma Watego described the lack of communication as “deeply disrespectful” and “another wound on top of an already tragic loss.” She explained that dingoes hold profound cultural significance on K’gari. They are not merely wild animals but spiritual beings, part of Dreaming stories, and symbols of the island’s living heritage. “You don’t just take a life from Country without speaking to the people who have cared for it since time immemorial,” she said.

The Butchulla have long advocated for a balanced, culturally informed approach to dingo management. They argue that culling should never be the first or only response and that traditional knowledge—monitoring pack behaviour, understanding seasonal movements, educating visitors—can reduce risks without lethal outcomes. “We’ve lived alongside dingoes for thousands of years,” Aunty Alma continued. “We know how to read their signs, how to keep Country safe for everyone. When you ignore us, you ignore the oldest law on this land.”

QPWS defended the decision, stating that the animals involved had displayed persistent risky behaviour and that public safety was the overriding priority. A spokesperson noted that the agency follows strict scientific risk assessments and that lethal control is only authorised when all other options are exhausted. They acknowledged the Butchulla’s concerns but emphasised that operational decisions in response to a fatality must be made swiftly. No formal apology or commitment to future consultation was included in the initial statement.

The timing and manner of the announcement have intensified the backlash. Butchulla representatives say they were not even informed informally before the media release. Community members have described the oversight as symptomatic of broader systemic issues—ongoing exclusion of First Nations voices from decisions about Country, particularly on issues involving native species. “This isn’t just about one dingo or one incident,” said Butchulla elder Uncle Ken Watego. “It’s about whose knowledge counts, whose connection to place is respected. When you treat dingoes like pests instead of part of Country, you treat us like we don’t matter.”

The incident has reignited wider debate about dingo management on K’gari. Since the island was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1992, dingoes have been recognised as a key part of its ecological and cultural value. Yet high visitor numbers, improper food storage, and human habituation have led to repeated negative interactions. The Butchulla have consistently called for a dingo management plan co-developed with traditional owners—one that integrates cultural protocols, visitor education, ranger training, and non-lethal deterrence. They argue that the current system, dominated by government agencies and scientific advisors, too often defaults to lethal control when tensions rise.

Public reaction has been divided. Some support the cull, citing the tragic death of Piper James and the need to protect tourists. Others, including animal welfare groups and Indigenous rights advocates, have condemned the decision and the lack of consultation. Online petitions calling for a moratorium on lethal control until traditional owners are meaningfully involved have gathered thousands of signatures. Protests have been held outside QPWS offices, with signs reading “Respect Country, Respect Custodians” and “No Cull Without Consent.”

The Butchulla have announced they will formally request a meeting with QPWS and the Queensland government to discuss the incident, the culling decision, and future management practices. They are also preparing a cultural impact statement outlining the spiritual and ecological consequences of removing the dingoes. “This is not just an animal issue,” Aunty Alma said. “It’s a cultural, spiritual, and human rights issue. When you take from Country without asking, you take from us.”

Piper James’ family has not publicly commented on the culling decision. Their focus remains on grieving their daughter and supporting awareness campaigns about safe behaviour around dingoes. Friends and classmates have organised memorial events and fundraisers in her name, many expressing sympathy for both the human loss and the cultural pain felt by the Butchulla.

As the debate continues, K’gari remains a place of profound beauty and deep complexity. The dingoes—long considered wongari (pure dingoes) by the Butchulla—continue to roam the island, their howls echoing across the dunes. For the traditional owners, every decision about them is a decision about Country itself. The anger over the lack of consultation is not only about one tragic event or one management choice—it is about recognition, respect, and the right to have a voice in the protection of a place they have never ceded.

Whether QPWS and the government respond with meaningful engagement remains to be seen. For now, the Butchulla stand firm: no more decisions about K’gari without them at the table. The dingoes, the island, and the memory of Piper James deserve nothing less.