Rare dingo puppy wave

Rare dingo puppy wave

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Lillie opted to give birth to eight puppies under a log. Photographs — Matt Devlin.
Lillie opted to give birth to eight puppies under a log. Photographs — Matt Devlin.

Kaarakin black cockatoo conservation centre welcomed a litter of dingo pups after alpine dingo Lillie gave birth for the first time last week.

The eight pups were alpine dingoes but their father Mitch was a bogong dingo, which was believed to be extinct in the wild.

Kaarakin founder and City of Gosnells councillor Glenn Dewhurst said Lillie went into labour about 11am on Friday.

“We had set up a nice sheltered area with a heat lamp and everything for her and her litter but when the time came she went and hid herself underneath a log,” he said.

“It seemed like the most uncomfortable place but for a first time mum she knows exactly what she’s doing.

“If she was in the wild she would be in a pretty vulnerable position right now so it makes sense that she would find a log to hide under.”

He said Lillie and the pups were brought inside following bad weather at the weekend and all of them were doing well.

“We’ve got four white pups and four brown ones,” he said.

“The litter is larger than what you see in the wild because they have larger litters when there’s been a good season and the dingoes are well cared for here.

“They’re a lot more advanced than dogs when they’re born so their eyes will open up a lot sooner.”

For more information about the centre’s work with dingoes and other threatened species visit www.blackcockatoorecovery.com.

Proud dad Mitch, an alpine dingo.
Proud dad Mitch, a bogong dingo.
Mum and pups.
Mum and pups.