The dingo is believed to have arrived in Australia 5,000 years ago.
There’s nothing quite as thrilling as hearing the mournful howl of a dingo when you’re in your swag at night, camping out under the stars. But within 50 years, the bush could be silenced, and the dingo extinct. After 200 years of being shot and poisoned, the dingo’s biggest threat is in-breeding with domestic dogs. Dr Alan Wilton is a geneticist with the University of New South Wales – his analysis of DNA from dingo skulls shows the dog could be extinct within 50 years.  That leaves places like the Pilbara, Kimberley and Territory as strongholds for the wild dog. And this raises questions about whether 1080 baiting of the animal inthe West should stop, and if the native dog should be put on the endangered species list. It's also important for pet owners in country areas to be responsible - male dogs are the most likely to mate with female dingoes.

by Peter Tapscott