The dingo debate is heating up. How we manage these animals will determine their future

WatsonUK/Getty What should we do about dingoes? How we manage dingoes is a source of heated debate.

Dingoes play an integral ecological role as a top predator, and have immense cultural significance to First Nations communities.

However, many farmers view dingoes as a threat to their livestock, livelihoods and mental health.

The New South Wales government is grappling with this tension, as a parliamentary inquiry considers how to manage dingo populations in the state’s national parks.

In NSW, dingoes are not protected under state law but are legally managed under the category of “wild dogs”, a term that includes dingoes .

The inquiry is currently examining the genetic status, ecological role and cultural significance of dingoes.

The inquiry received nearly 400 public submissions.

The dingo debate The NSW government relies on several core values to guide how it manages the state’s national parks.

These include protecting biodiversity, keeping ecosystems intact and upholding the values of local First Nations communities.

These principles must be balanced with the need for research and sustainable tourism .

When it comes to dingoes, the crucial question is whether dingo control within national parks conflicts with these considerations.

There is a mounting push to strengthen protection for dingoes across the country, and particularly in national parks.

The ecological argument emphasises their role as a top predator that keeps numbers of kangaroos, foxes and other invasive species under control.

From a cultural perspective, archaeological evidence chronicles the long-standing relationships between dingoes and Indigenous Australians.