Killing of K’gari dingoes in wake of backpacker’s death could create ‘extinction vortex’, expert says

K’gari’s isolated dingo population has low genetic diversity and high levels of inbreeding, says Dr Kylie Cairns, an expert in dingo genetics. Photograph: elmvilla/Getty Images

Dingo experts have said a decision to kill a 10-strong pack of the animals linked with the death of Canadian tourist Piper James on K’gari could push the island’s population towards extinction while doing little to protect humans.

The Queensland government revealed on Sunday it had already killed six of the pack seen around the body of the 19-year-old in a move that has angered the island’s traditional owners who have said they were not consulted.