Risks: Sharks, dogs and cars

Sharks - "Twenty-five shark bite incidents were recorded across the country last year.
The Shark-Incident Database shows that between 2000 and 2025, 559 bites were recorded in Australian waters."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-21/what-australian-shark-attack-data-reveals/106248228

Dogs - "Australia Post data shows that in the six months to May 2025, more than 1,150 dog-related incidents were recorded against postal delivery workers across the country."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-17/dog-attacks-who-is-responsible-explainer/105884928

Cars - "In the 12 months to November 2025, there were 1,332 deaths on roads nationwide, according to the national road safety data hub, which has yet to publish its final statistics for the year."
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/02/australia-2025-road-toll-deaths-fatalities-rise-nationwide

" In 2025, 355 people died on roads in NSW, 28 more than in 2024, the state government announced on Friday. "
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/02/australia-2025-road-toll-deaths-fatalities-rise-nationwide

Cull sharks, dogs and cars?

#risks #cars #mauling #dogs #sharks #ocean #habitat #culling

"Dog attacks
are on the rise in Australia. The most recent data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show dog-related hospital admissions more than doubled in the eight years to 2021."
​>>
https://theconversation.com/australia-needs-a-canine-brain-bank-to-reduce-the-risk-of-dog-attacks-273220

"Furry friends responsible for over 12,000 injury hospitalisations in 2021–22. Cats and dogs, the most common domestic pets in Australia, were responsible for over half (53%) of all injury hospitalisations related to contact with animals in 2021–22."
>>
https://www.aihw.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/2024/march/furry-friends-responsible-for-over-12-000-injury-hospitalisations-in-2021-22
#pets #dogs #cats #mauling #violence #biodiversity #wildlife

Australia needs a canine brain bank to reduce the risk of dog attacks

You can’t spot an aggressive dog just from its looks or breed. Genetic testing could better predict which dogs will bite.

The Conversation

Energy worker Kane Minion was mauled to death by dogs while trying to read an electricity meter

"The inquest is expected to run until Thursday, with three more witnesses to give evidence. Energy Queensland would not pay its meter reading contractor when workers skipped properties due to safety concerns about dogs, an inquest has heard...After Mr Minion's death, the company began to be paid for meter reads that were skipped due to the presence of dogs, the court heard."

"A bandog bull-mastiff cross named Dozer and a bull-mastiff Rhodesian ridgeback cross named Scooby were euthanised following the attack."
>>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-14/kane-minion-dog-attack-meter-reader-inquest/105889012
#dogs #pets #OHS #work #violence #councils #mauling #pedestrians #safety

Inquest continues into death of energy worker mauled by dogs at Logan

After meter reader Kane Minion was fatally mauled by dogs at a Queensland property, the Coroners Court hears details about the electricity provider's work procedures.

ABC News

Man's best friend

"The NSW government is reviewing its companion animal laws in the wake of fatal dog attacks. The dog attack incidents in 2024 include 2,824 attacks on adults, 461 on children and 2,598 on other dogs. A total of 430 dogs had to be euthanised."

"An Australian Institute of Health and Welfare study released last year found in 2012-13, 15.9 people per 100,000 needed hospital care after a dog attack. By 2021-22, that had more than doubled to 36.9.
The latest survey by Animals Medicines Australia, released on 18 September, found almost half of Australian households (49.3%) now have at least one dog, a jump from 2013 when it was 39%."

"...Many incidents of dog aggression “stem from lack of owner awareness or poor management” and it recommended education and awareness programs."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/23/american-staffordshire-amstaff-nsw-most-attack-prone-dog-but-data-may-be-misleading
#dogs #pets #harm #mauling #violence #regulation #wildlife #biodiversity #meat #climate

American staffordshires are NSW’s most attack-prone dog – but there may be more to the data

Australian Veterinary Association says aggression is ‘more reliably predicted’ by owner behaviour and individual dog experience than by breed alone

The Guardian
Dog mauling
A teenage girl has died in hospital after being attacked by a mix of boxer, bull Arab and Irish wolfhound. The 17-year-old girl suffered from critical injuries to her head, neck and body. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-09/teenage-girl-dies-after-singleton-dog-attack/105751342
#DogAttacks #dogs #pets #mauling #violence
Teenage girl dies in hospital after Singleton dog attack last week

A 17-year-old girl dies after being attacked by a dog while visiting a friend's home in the Hunter Valley last week.

ABC News

One dog attack on native animals everyday?

A koala, a kangaroo and a wombat walked into a paddock where dogs run free...

"All three animals separately fell victim to attacks from pet dogs in a country town over the last two weeks." Wildlife rescuers have to pick up the pieces..

https://au.news.yahoo.com/dog-owners-frustrating-excuse-after-three-iconic-animals-attacked-025437795.html
#biodiversity #wildlife #roaming #dogs #pets #mauling #violence

Dog owners’ frustrating excuse after three iconic animals attacked

There are two simple changes that can turn a pet dog into a killer. Find out more.

Yahoo News
How common are dog attacks?
"Public health studies estimate there are about 100,000 dog attacks in Australia each year, and people end up being hospitalised in about three per cent of attacks. An even smaller portion of attacks make it into the news, and when they do the outcome is usually devastating."
"That's because about 80 per cent of attacks happen in the home and children are three times more likely to be hospitalised from an attack."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-06/queensland-dangerous-dog-breed-bans-attacks-explained/102763790
#roaming #pets #dogs #mauling #wildlife #koalas
Authorities are looking to crack down on dog breeds. Experts say that might be the wrong approach

A veterinarian says banning certain dog breeds in the wake of a spate of attacks won't solve the issue. Here's why.

ABC News

And then the koalas just vanished...
Speeding cars, road designs, roaming dogs and disease are the biggest koala killers.
Logging and sprawl should also be added to the list of extinction makers

"A database tracking hospital admissions and deaths reveals the devastating impact cars, disease and dogs are having on the South East Queensland koala population"
.
"In the five years between 2009 and 2014, 52% of reported wild koala deaths were caused by car strike, 34% were from a chlamydia-related disease and 14% were because of a dog attack.

"This equates to 1,431 koala deaths from a car strike, 943 chlamydia-related deaths, and 395 dog attack deaths in just five years."

"Remember that these deaths were just the reported cases, so the real numbers would be significantly higher."
https://phys.org/news/2023-09-cars-chlamydia-canines-biggest-koala.html

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-40827-w
Ravi Bandara Dissanayake et al, Anthropogenic and environmental factors associated with koala deaths due to dog attacks and vehicle collisions in South-East Queensland, Australia, 2009–2013, Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40827-w
#dogs #pets #dogAttacks #Mauling #cars #speeding #roads #RoadDesign #HabitatFragmentation #koalas #wildlife #IndustrialLogging #Bellingen #ThreatenedSpecies #IntroducedSpecies #sprawl #biodiversity #conservation #extinction makers

Cars, chlamydia and canines are biggest koala killers

A database tracking hospital admissions and deaths reveals the devastating impact cars, disease and dogs are having on the South East Queensland koala population.

Phys.org

Roaming dogs attacking wildlife on NSW beaches

"Australian locals who have reported an increased level of dog attacks on native Aussie wildlife say they're fed-up with "entitled" pet owners acting irresponsibly...The aggression at times when I've politely asked if someone can call their dog has been scary, and a couple of times I thought guys were actually going to punch me!"

https://au.news.yahoo.com/community-divided-over-rule-at-tourist-hotspot-she-threatened-to-kill-me-080027402.html
#biodiversity #enforcement #birds #marsupials #NSW #beaches #introduced #pets #dogs #Mauling

Yahoo is part of the Yahoo family of brands

500 people in the last year were admitted to hospitals for dog bites in South Australia

"The three-month campaign hopes to mitigate the risk of dog attacks on humans and other animals while urging people not to be complacent around any dog. Dogs are a product of their environment."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-14/dog-bite-campaign-aims-reduce-attacks-education-warning-signs/102707418
#pets #dogs #attacks #mauling #wildlife

Dog bite campaign aims to reduce attacks, better educate about canine behaviour, warning signs

Over 500 people were admitted to SA hospitals for dog bites in the last 12 months, with a new public safety campaign is attempting to reduce dog attacks on people and pets.

ABC News