Did the MOON spark the latest Fraser Island dingo attack? Expert gives bizarre explanation for mauling by wild dogs that left a toddler with a fractured skull
- A one-year-old boy was dragged by his head from caravan on Fraser Island
- His parents fought the aggressive wild dogs off and he was rushed to hospital
- Dingo sanctuary owner Simon Stretton has said the timing makes sense
- 'Right now it is the full moon and the onset of the breeding season,' he said
The full moon may have made two dingoes attack a baby sleeping in a campervan, according to an expert.
A one-year-old boy was dragged by his head from his family's caravan on Fraser Island in Queensland, early on Friday morning.
His parents fought the wild dogs off and he was rushed to hospital with a fractured skull.
Dingo sanctuary owner Simon Stretton has said he is shocked by the attack - but said the timing makes sense.
The full moon may have made two dingoes attack a baby sleeping in a campervan, according to dingo expert Simon Stretton (pictured)
The dingo sanctuary owner (pictured) has said he is shocked by the attack - but said the timing makes sense
'You must remember, right now, it is the full moon and the onset of the breeding season,' he told the Fraser Coast Chronicle.
'This is the worst time of the year for dingo-human interaction.'
Dingoes are known to become more aggressive when breeding - but there is scant evidence to support Mr Stretton's full moon theory.
During the latest attack on Friday, at least two wild dogs are believed to have popped a clip on the side of the campervan before entering it and attacking the baby.
The boy's parents woke to the sounds of screams as one of dingoes dragged the boy outside.
Rescue personnel said the father chased the wild dogs into nearby bushland and fought them off the tot before calling paramedics.
The boy was treated by paramedics stationed on the island before an RACQ LifeFlight helicopter arrived about 1.40am on Friday.
A 14-month-old boy has undergone surgery after he was dragged by his head from his family's caravan on Fraser Island in Queensland, early on Friday morning
The boy was treated by paramedics stationed on the island before an RACQ LifeFlight helicopter arrived about 2.30am on Friday
The victim was bleeding heavily but was in a stable condition in Hervey Bay Hospital by morning. He was later transferred to Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane.
He suffered a fractured skull, puncture wounds to his neck and head, and cuts on his legs, scalp and body in the attack.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service have since sent dingo rangers to the island to talk to witnesses and try to identify the animal responsible for the attack.
Principal ranger Daniel Clifton said they would consider euthanising the dingo, however without an expert witness or photo it would be hard to track it down.
'Euthanasia is an option that has been employed in the past, but that's certainly an option we don't take lightly … it's taken with all the information gathered together and in consultation with the Butchulla traditional owners as well,' he told The Weekend Australian.
The tot suffered a fractured skull, puncture wounds to his neck and head, and cuts on his legs, scalp and body in the attack
The boy was bleeding heavily but was in a stable condition in Hervey Bay Hospital by morning. He was later transferred to Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane
But local resident Hannah Robinson warned that dingoes are vital to the local ego system and should be preserved.
'We are losing 10 to 15 dingoes each year and it is such a shame. it is really important to keep them here, they are an apex predator and we have a feral cat population,' she said.
Ms Robinson is warning tourists they shouldn't be camping in unfenced areas with children under 12.
She said there was not enough public information available for how to be dingo safe on the island.
She told The Sydney Morning Herald this meant that more attacks were inevitable.
'More and more people are coming to the island every year and there just is not enough education,' Ms Robinson said.
'People who do the wrong thing are either naive or stupid. People just grab a permit and come over here without being prepared. This is not the kind of place to do that; you need to come with a plan.'
Locals are warning tourists they shouldn't be camping in unfenced areas with children under 12 and are urging for more information to be made available (stock image)
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