The work of the ADCA

The association is working towards changing the status of the dingo in all states and to have one National identity for the dingo as Native Fauna.and the protection of the dingo with this status.

We have managed to conserve the last remnant population of the South Eastern Highland dingoes (as a captive group) and are working with scientists, conservationists and government agencies to conserve dingoes in other areas where possible.

Dr David Jenkins, Barry Oakman (president of the ADCA) and NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change scientists
taking blood samples from our dingoes for research.

We are collaborators in the DNA Research on the Dingo and have acted as a resource for samples from across Australia. The DNA research commenced in 1996. We have managed to conserve and test over 200 animals on our conservation register and have supplied a large number of wild samples. Now government agencies are supporting the DNA research through our efforts to instil the importance of conserving good dingo populations. Through our co-operative efforts with DNA research the alarming extent of hybridity in dingo populations has been confirmed and highlights our concerns for conserving the dingo before it is too late.

We are working with the Wilderness Society Scientific Council to assist in establishing research programs on the dingo as a trophic regulator in our ecology. Adam O'Neill is currently conducting arid region research on dingo populations and assisting two researchers on aspects of dingo research in these areas. This is the most important aspect of dingo research for conservation at this time.

Collared dingo with tracking device, "Dogs in Space" research in Kosiuska National Park NSW

We have established a mutually co-operative relationship with the State Wild Dog Advisory Committee in Western Australia to research good populations of core habitat dingoes for conservation. We are seeking the same relationship with the Department of Conservation and the Environment in Western Australia.

The ADCA is managing the conservation breeding program for dingoes and the Australian Species Management Program for Dingoes which was handed to us by the Australian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria.

The dingo is managed in this program according to wild species management principles and as a wild canid. Wherever possible we manage captive dingoes with minimal contact with humans so the dingo retains it's inherent wariness of man. The aim is to eventually have release programs into well resourced sanctuaries in wilderness areas, which are protected and where the dingo can exist naturally.

The ADCA has recently attended a preliminary meeting at the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development (Victoria) with the Norwood Animal Conservation Group to discuss a Dingo Species Recovery Program and Artificial Insemination.