Dingo Population in Australia

Estimates suggest 100,000–200,000 dingoes across Australia, but exact numbers are uncertain due to vast range, hybridization with feral dogs, and methodological challenges. Populations are concentrated in:

• Northern/central Australia (purest dingoes).
• Southeast (higher hybridization).

Management: Dingoes are declared pests in many jurisdictions (livestock predation). Control includes 1080 poison baiting, trapping, shooting, exclusion fencing (5,600 km "dog fence"). Conservationists argue for protection as apex predators regulating ecosystems (suppressing foxes, cats, kangaroos). The debate balances agricultural interests vs. ecological role.