Friday, December 16, 2005

Who Let the Dogs Out?

I was browsing around Wikipedia (a free, online Encyclopedia that is constantly being updated by its community of users) and came across an article on Dingos. We're preparing for a trip into the outback to go see Ayers Rock / Uluru and thought it would be worth reading up a bit.

Australia in 1880, erected a 8500k (5200 miles) fence to protect the South Eastern portion of the continent from wild dogs. At the time, sheep were a precious commodity to the country and these Dingos (as often associated with their Aboriginal Hosts)were natural predators, feasting at will. Mint Jelly supplies at outback pet stores sky rocketed.

After the fence was erected, the longest man made structure in the world at the time, the reduction in wild dogs was offset by increased grazing competition from kangaroo and emu, not bolstering the sheep population any.

The initial, but similarly unsuccessful endeavor was as a Rabbit Proof Fence, of which a fine Australian film was titled after. There are 25 employees still maintaining the fence to this day, parts of which are illuminated at night by solar-charged, red and white lights.

posted by ncawthon at 4:43 PM