Overview

Canis dingo is a captivating exploration of one of Australia’s most iconic and polarising species. Drawing on two decades of scientific research, historical records and firsthand fieldwork, Bradley P. Smith traces how a wild canid became entangled in myth, law and livestock conflict, revealing what is at stake in the way Australia treats its apex predator. As new scientific discoveries unsettle entrenched views, and awareness of the dingo’s ecological and cultural value grows, Australia is being forced to confront uncomfortable questions. Is the dingo a native species or a feral intruder? A wild canid or domestic dog gone rogue? A threat to biodiversity or one of its last remaining guardians? The answers matter, because they flow into real-world decisions that determine whether dingoes are protected or killed across much of the continent. Blending field science, published research, historical evidence and expert perspectives, this book cuts through longstanding myth and political noise to offer a deeper understanding of the dingo and its place in modern Australia. ""Beautifully written and literally bursting with factual information."" – Lyn Watson, Founder-Director of the Australian Dingo Foundation

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9781486318483

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Reviews

""This is the book that all Australians who care about the dingo have been waiting for. Canis dingo is a deep and stimulating exploration of the environmental and cultural significance of the dingo, and its complex and contested place in Australian life."" -- Professor Chris Johnson * ecologist and conservation biologist, University of Tasmania * ""Canis dingo is, perhaps, this century's most important book on the relationship between humans and animals... With an accessible style, Smith invites readers to grapple with the true identity of the Australian dingo: are they the clever, enigmatic spirit of wild Australia, or a villain and pest? ... The result is a powerful new understanding of these extraordinary predators and an urgent call for coexistence that can enrich our shared world."" -- Professor Brian Hare * evolutionary anthropologist, Duke University, and New York Times bestselling author *

Author Information

Dr Bradley P. Smith is a recognised expert on dingoes. He is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at CQUniversity, specialising in animal behaviour, conservation science and the complex relationship between humans and wildlife. He is the author of The Dingo Debate (CSIRO Publishing, 2015) and lead editor of Wildlife Research in Australia (CSIRO Publishing, 2022).

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