Dingo

While the dingo closely resembles Fido or Max at home, don’t be fooled! Dingoes are Australia’s largest mammalian carnivores. Some scientists think they’re a subspecies of the gray wolf, just like domestic dogs. Others argue that dingoes are a separate, unique species. Dingo fossils in Australia date back to over 3,000 years ago. Studies suggest their ancestors were a small group of domestic dogs brought to Australia by Asian seafarers. By the time Europeans arrived in the 1600s, feral dingoes were found throughout the country. Although they were originally introduced to Australia by humans, they’ve been there so long that they’re now considered a native species. Although some Aboriginal tribes kept them as semi-domestic pets and used them for hunting, they are very difficult to tame. They can climb fences and rotate their wrists to turn doorknobs to escape confinement!

Glen Fergus, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Dingo

Dingoes are usually ginger in color with white undersides, but they vary in shade depending on where they live. They can adapt and thrive in almost any environment. Dingoes in deserts tend to be a paler, more golden color, while dingoes in forests tend to be a darker, more chocolate color. These color shades allow them to blend into their habitats. While God initially created all animals as vegetarians (Genesis 1:29-31), the world was cursed when Adam and Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3). Today, dingoes are one of Australia’s top carnivores, hunting a wide variety of prey. They work together to hunt larger animals. They have been very helpful in eradicating harmful invasive species like cats, foxes, and rabbits. Unfortunately, their prey often includes livestock like cattle or sheep. Angry ranchers have led dingo extermination efforts throughout history, which has reduced their numbers.

Believe it or not, dingoes rarely bark! Instead, they prefer to howl, especially at night, to gather pack members together or warn off intruders. They live in clearly defined territories that they protect from other dingoes. Packs are usually comprised of mated pairs and their offspring. Lately, dingoes have been breeding with domestic dogs to create hybrids. God tells us in Genesis 1:24-25 that he created all the animals according to their kinds. Today, the canine kind includes many species, such as wolves, coyotes, jackals, dingoes, and foxes. It makes sense that dingoes and dogs can breed. However, you will never see a dingo breed with a kangaroo to make a new animal because they are different created kinds.