Why Has The Longest Fence In The World Transformed Australia’s Landscape In Surprising Ways?


Australia is home to countless unique animals and ecosystems and is also home to the world’s longest fence. It is aimed at a single species, but the dingo fence has transformed the environment in surprising ways. The dingo fence starts in the green fields of Queensland’s Darling Downs and stretches through New South Wales and South Australia before it abruptly ends on a high cliff’s edge above the Great Australian Bite. It’s purpose is to keep dingoes out. What do you think LiveTribers? Why has the longest fence in the world transformed Australia’s landscape in surprising ways?

Posted by on 14 Mar 2023

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  • [0] [0]
    June

    Was not aware of this fence before. Interesting reading peoples comments.

    Posted by June on 23 Apr 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    yelsha42

    To keep the dingoes out

    Posted by yelsha42 on 28 Mar 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    kendallx3

    I didn't know anything about it.

    Posted by kendallx3 on 28 Mar 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Nicholas

    The presence of an apex predator does appear to help maintain a healthier natural environment. One should remember though that the dingo is an introduced (or invasive) species, and helped drive into extinction on the mainland the two previous marsupial apex predators: the Tasmanian Tiger and Tasmanian devil.

    Posted by Nicholas on 25 Mar 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    coaster

    There have been a few experiments with fenced areas and without fenced areas. The Dingo was not a huge problem apparently. I guess it depends on the numbers of them around. They have been here for 1000's of years so really are a native now. Cats and rabbits and foxes are a problem. Cane toad yes as well as introduced plants causing more problems than the dingo I feel. I know some farmers hate the dingos and others seem to be OK within reason.

    Posted by coaster on 20 Mar 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    bronniept

    It has been shown that by removing an apex predator, the whole ecosystem changes. you can see from air photos the differences in vegetation. It is incredible. Dingoes play an important role in the environment in Australia. The fence was put in to protect introduced livestock, but the feral cat population would probably not be as bad if the dingoes were allowed to roam free. I don't think people believe it is doing its job anyway as in Queensland graziers are now putting up barrier fences which keep all native animals out. they are destroying the environment they say they are trying to protect.

    Posted by bronniept on 20 Mar 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    SagoLeo

    It has created an imbalance of the Australian native wildlife ecosystem with dingoes living on the west side and too many kangaroos on the east side. Don't mind kangaroos but I know farmers are having a hell of a time protecting their crops and infrastructure.

    Posted by SagoLeo on 20 Mar 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    SW

    Is it keeping a pest out? or keeping it in?. Animals move where and when they want without restriction. We should isolate any endangered species and let the rest do as they like.

    Posted by SW on 20 Mar 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    Alex!20

    While its purpose is to keep dingo's out - it may also prevent the movement of other species to inhabit their natural habitat and therefore they may overpopulate the areas that the fence is trying to protect thus causing a different problem

    Posted by Alex!20 on 17 Mar 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    CILLY0

    It has ensured that the native fauna has been able to survive as it doesn't just keep dingoes out, but so many other feral animals that kill and maim our native wildlife.

    Posted by CILLY0 on 17 Mar 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Me _ 2

    Dingoes would destroy the environment and many other species

    Posted by Me _ 2 on 17 Mar 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    wrestling collector

    I wasn't aware the fence was that long,are dingos such a big problem as this seems like an extreme solution.

    Posted by wrestling collector on 17 Mar 2023
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    roger

    My understanding is that one side is a lot greener than the other as the dingo keeps the population of rodents and small animals down and therefore there is more growth on that side. On saying that, dingos don't distinguish between native and introduced species so may lead to a decline there.

    Posted by roger on 17 Mar 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    TRISH

    "The Fence" protects not just sheep grazing but also the many small native animals ,There is plenty of land for the dingo to inhabit outside the fence. Pity that the dingo cant eat the cane toad as this pest had now spread right across the tropical land from Queensland to Western Australia. (A fence should be made for them as well.)

    Posted by TRISH on 17 Mar 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Reznor

    my grandfather helped build this fence and keep it secure would be a great defence line if australia was ever invaded has made lots of flairs and fauna thrive

    Posted by Reznor on 17 Mar 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    coaster

    A tank would just run over it - no defence

    Posted by coaster on 20 Mar 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    Godfrey

    Rather than transforming the environment the fence has protected a lot of small species from extinction

    Posted by Godfrey on 17 Mar 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Spiderwoman

    You don't say what these surprising ways are! What comes to mind is that when wolves were excluded from Yellowstone National Park in the USA, it upset the balance - specifically, elks overgrazed the land and trees and without those trees, songbirds began to decline...etc, etc If you change one thing it has ongoing consequences. Are there studies on the impact of the dingo fence? What is actually happening? I believe it costs over a million dollars to maintain and that dingoes “inside” the fence continue to be killed by various means (not all of them humane), including poison baits, trapping and shooting. Are there more kangaroos? Kangaroos are being culled... What about feral cats? and foxes? impact of grazing? so many questions....

    Posted by Spiderwoman on 17 Mar 2023
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    pinky princess

    I had never heard of this fence before. I would assume its role is to protect other species from predators and to protect the ecosystems. While its purpose is to keep dingo's out - it may also prevent the movement of other species to inhabit their natural habitat and therefore they may overpopulate the areas that the fence is trying to protect thus causing a different problem

    Posted by pinky princess on 17 Mar 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    sandra

    I first read about this fence when I was a teenager (many years ago!) and was fascinated. It's on my bucket list of things I hope to see one day. I realise I don't know much about its effectiveness so this topic has inspired me to find out more. I hope it does good for vulnerable animals and perhaps it might be a tourist attraction, too.

    Posted by sandra on 17 Mar 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    merryl

    It is designed to protect native wildlife from dingoes. It also impacts the movement of other wildlife.

    Posted by merryl on 17 Mar 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Seshachalapathi

    Not something I even knew was in existence but it would be interesting to see how it goes

    Posted by Seshachalapathi on 17 Mar 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Ally42

    I think because it would impact the movement of other animals that would transform the landscape in ways not expected.

    Posted by Ally42 on 17 Mar 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    Jibberman

    I was completely unaware this fence exists. Dingoes are no fools and I'm sure they find ways through it.

    Posted by Jibberman on 17 Mar 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    Paula

    I would be very surprised if a fence kept dingo's out. They can dig, jump and climb, so does it really keep them out?

    Posted by Paula on 16 Mar 2023
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    Elandra

    But does it actually achieve the goal to keep Dingoes out and protect other wildlife? It might force them to overpopulate and be more concentrated in their restricted areas, thus creating another problem? I wonder if the cost of fence maintenance justifies the end results.

    Posted by Elandra on 16 Mar 2023
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  • [0] [0]
    mact

    Upgrafe and maintain the fence and shoot dingoes on sight. Despite popular myth they are an Asian Wild Dog and would share dna with the rabies riddled dogs of Bali. They may well have came across via the Gondwana land bridge with man. However they may also have been pets of the Indonesian fishermen who visited the north west of Australia well before the Dutch and Portuguese. They are an apex predator and decimate most ground dwelling species in their roaming territory. Dingoes should be declared a pest species along with Cats, Rabbits, Foxes,Camels, Asian Buffalo, Cane Toads, Hares, European Carp and Wasps and all the pest weed varieties that have established in our once great country side.!

    Posted by mact on 15 Mar 2023
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  • [0] [1]
    Sammbo

    Do we have any proof it is successful? Consider the cost of maintaining and repairing it from time to time. Is there a better way to manage this perceived dingo probem?

    Posted by Sammbo on 15 Mar 2023
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  • [1] [0]
    sulter

    It has probably saved the lives of many native wildlife creatures, possibly saving them from extinction.

    Posted by sulter on 15 Mar 2023
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