Dingoes are not domestic dogs – new evidence shows these native canines are on their own evolutionary path
- Written by Kylie M. Cairns, Research fellow in canid and wildlife genomics, UNSW Sydney
For decades, scientists, policymakers, graziers and land managers have been locked in a surprisingly high-stakes debate over what defines a dingo. Are these wild canids their own species? Or are they simply feral dogs?
The intensity of the debate can seem baffling. But the naming of animals influences how they are perceived and managed. The dingo...