Impacts of colonisation on dingoes are ‘written in their bones’, new research finds

A typical ginger dingo from the Strzelecki Desert Matthew Brun, QLD, CC BY-NC

Dingoes are no ordinary dogs. They trace their roots back to an ancient Asian lineage and made their way to Australia more than 3,500 years ago.

Since then, they’ve become integrated into Australian ecosystems. They hold deep cultural meaning for many Indigenous Australians — woven into songlines, ceremonies, and family life, and often regarded as kin.