A Canadian backpacker, who tragically lost her life on an Australian beach, was found surrounded by dingoes, a danger her family believes she underestimated.
Nineteen-year-old Piper James was employed on Queensland’s K’gari, formerly Fraser Island, when she ventured out for an early morning swim on January 19.
Her body was later discovered near the famous SS Maheno shipwreck, encircled by about 10 dingoes.
An autopsy has indicated that drowning was likely the cause of death, though it also revealed she had suffered dingo bites before her passing.
Queensland’s Environment Minister, Andrew Powell, stated that six of the roughly 10 dingoes have been put down. Plans to cull more animals displaying “aggressive behavior” are underway.
Todd James, Piper’s father, believes she underestimated the threat and should have carried a stick for protection while on the beach alone.
‘We will never know’
Tourists are warned not to run, walk alone and always carry a dingo safety stick — simply a long, sturdy object, such as a fishing rod, hiking pole, or PVC pipe — to deter dingoes.
“I believe that, maybe some dangerous dingoes saw her as something all by itself, as prey that’s harmed, splashing around, and maybe that got their attention to come out, and then Piper got pushed out into the ocean,” James told reporters.
“I’ve heard that that’s kind of how they’ll do — they’ll corral their prey so they can’t come out, and they’ll push them out into the water, and unfortunately, wait for them to drown and bring them in.
“We will never know, and that’s the hardest part.”
It is estimated that 100 to 200 dingoes populate K’gari island. Source: AAP / Supplied
“She loved it there, she loved the beauty she found,” James said.
“We were worried she would try not come home. She loved Australia, she loved the people.”
James said his daughter and her friend, Taylor, who joined her on the backpacking adventure, were warned against swimming on K’gari, but weren’t afraid of the island’s dingo population.
“Piper and Taylor would go down to the beach every night and play music, like have a fire and play the guitar,” he said.
“They never use the sticks. One of the guys said that if the dogs come near you, kick sand in their face, and they’ll run.
“You didn’t have to worry about them — that was the culture — that you didn’t really have to worry.”
Confirmation that the dingo cull is underway is “heart-wrenching”, but it would make the island a safer place to visit, James said.
“We never wanted any animals hurt. We never wanted a cull for the dingoes, and I don’t think Piper would be supportive of any animals being put to sleep or euthanised because of a mistake that she made to put herself in that vulnerable position,” he said.
“But on the same token, just to be honest, I recognise for the safety of the island, maybe that pack needed to be euthanised, but not because of Piper, but because of the way they’ve been behaving.”
As the family continues to grapple with their heartbreaking loss, plans are underway to travel to the island for a traditional smoking ceremony alongside the Butchulla people of K’gari.
“I was lucky to have her. I always wanted to be a dad. Now it’s just like, how do you find a path where you’re not a dad?” James said.
“I know Piper looks down and she just wants her mum and dad to hold each other tight and be there for one another, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
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