Canis dingo: Understanding Australia’s Apex Predator

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.

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 and lead editor of Wildlife Research in Australia.