Cameras key in dingo research

The Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute hopes to raise about $6000 to buy the new cameras.

These cameras would be placed within national parks, and on the fringes, to better understand the impact of dingo management on nearby properties.

Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute executive director Dr Rosalie Chapple said the research was investigating the ecology of dingos in the Blue Mountains.

"We will set up cameras in those sites to monitor the presence of dingos, and we will be looking at what happens to cats and foxes when you take dingos out of the ecosystem," Dr Chapple said.

"We will be monitoring areas around the boundary (of the national park) where dingos are controlled."

She said there were two key concerns to be addressed.

"If dingos are removed from the natural ecosystem, what impact does that have on increased numbers of feral cats and foxes?

"Are we protecting livestock effectively through the current approach?

"We are trying to better understand what could be a more effective way of protecting livestock."

She said they didn't want to put farmers offside with the research.

She said sites would include Mudgee, on the edge and within the Wollemi National Park, another site near the Megalong Valley and within the Blue Mountains National Park, and another in the Yengo National Park.

"There's been quite a bit of work done on dingos in central Australia, but as for the Blue Mountains there's almost no research."

The research is expected to be completed at the end of next year.

"The results so far are showing dingos are keeping foxes and cats away quite significantly," she said

While it's not the subject of investigation in this research study, Dr Chapple said it was interesting to see the work carried out in the US with regard to wolf control and the implications that may have on non-lethal methods of dingo control in Australia.

It was not about killing them off but rather deterring them from going after livestock.

Some of the examples of success in the US, such as non-lethal wolf control near ranches surrounding Yellowstone National Park, provide a background to the type of research and programs that could potentially be carried out in Australia with regard to dingo control.

"A lot of ranches in the US have used non-lethal methods of wolf control that have worked well in terms of protecting livestock."

As an example, one method used in the US is fladry tape - red flags hung on a wire at intervals surrounding fences - which can be electrified.

A crowd-funding campaign, DingoCam, is being run through Pozible.

Those wishing to contribute to the project should visit the Pozible site before next Monday, June 23.

Visit Pozible for more information.