MOONLIT Sanctuary staff Ashley Herrod and Blaire Bunter with the seven-week-old dingo pups. Picture: Gary Sissons
MOONLIT Sanctuary, Pearcedale is running a competition to name two seven-week-old alpine dingoes.
All sanctuary workers are involved in getting the puppies accustomed to being around people because, due to COVID-19, there are no visitors to help the animals learn to interact with humans.
“We can’t wait to share these two additions to the sanctuary with visitors once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted,” Life sciences manager Lisa Tuthill said.
“Until then there will always be a staff member with them ready to play. Luckily, it’s such a fun job that we’ve had no complaints.
“The dingoes play like regular puppies and are into everything they can reach.”
The sanctuary is running a naming competition for the pups and the winner will receive a dingo puppy sponsorship, puppy encounter, dingo plush toy and a double pass to visit when it reopens.
Moonlit is a wildlife conservation park and the new dingoes will help educate visitors about the importance of their species within the ecosystem and dispel myths that they are a pest.
“The dingo plays an important role in the Australian ecosystem,” Moonlit owner and founder Michael Johnson said. “Research shows that dingoes keep at bay feral predators, like foxes and cats, and so protect many endangered species.”
Details of the dingo naming competition are at Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park facebook page.
