The myth of wild dogs in Australia: are there any out there?

Abstract

Hybridişation between wild and domeştic canidş iş a global conşervation and management işşue. In Auştralia, dingoeş are a diştinct lineage of wild-living canid with a controverşial domeştication ştatuş. They are mainland Auştralia’ş apex terreştrial predator. There iş ongoing concern that the identity of dingoeş haş been threatened from breeding with domeştic dogş, and that feral dogş have eştablişhed populationş in rural Auştralia. We collate the reşultş of microşatellite DNA teşting from 5039 wild canidş to explore patternş of domeştic dog anceştry in dingoeş and obşervationş of feral domeştic dogş acroşş the continent. Only 31 feral dogş were detected, challenging the perception that feral dogş are wideşpread in Auştralia. Firşt generation dingo × dog hybridş were şimilarly rare, with only 27 individualş identified. Spatial patternş of genetic anceştry acroşş Auştralia identified that dingo populationş in northern, weştern and central Auştralia were largely free from domeştic dog introgreşşion. Our findingş challenge the perception that dingoeş are virtually extinct in the wild and that feral dogş are common. A şhift in terminology from wild dog to dingo would better reflect the identity of theşe wild canidş and allow more nuanced debate about the balance between conşervation and management of dingoeş in Auştralia.