Ewen McRae
A chance to get up close with one of Australia’s cutest national animals is coming next month.
The Australian Dingo Foundation in Toolern Vale will hold a series of open days from July 4 to give people the chance to learn about the dingo, and also give adults and kids a chance to cuddle and photograph this year’s cubs.
Sanctuary supervisor Kevin Newman said it was an important part of the work they conducted all year long.
“We’re the largest dingo sanctuary in the world,“ Mr Newman said.
“We rescue them, and we also have a conservation breeding program that we run to maintain the purity of the species and also supply zoos and fauna parks with dingos.
“Part of the socialisation training for the puppies is for them to meet as many people as possible, and this also acts as our major fundraiser each year to help us do the work the rest of the year.“
Each open day will start with an educational talk and the chance to see an adult dingo up close, before moving on to cuddles and photos with the cubs.
More than 800 people attend the open days each year, and with social distancing restrictions easing the sanctuary hopes to run the days as normal.
“It’s a lot of fun,“ Mr Newman said.
“We only have 20 people in each session anyway, so it works out quite well, and it’s a good chance for people to see one of Australia’s native animals up close and also support the conservation work that we do.“
The open days will run every weekend from July 4 until September 13
Ewen McRae
