PREVIEW

Two adorable dingo puppies have settled into their new home this week.

The mischievous-looking pair arrived at the Australian Reptile Park and have already stolen the hearts of the zookeepers.

The two pups have been named Bluey and Bandit after the popular kid's TV show "Bluey".

Tim Faulkner, General Manager of the Australian Reptile Park, said, “The puppies are such gorgeous additions to our Reptile Park family.”

He continued, “Bluey and Bandit are proving to be a hit with our team; they can’t seem to get enough of our new little balls of fluff! I can’t wait for visitors to meet them and fall in love with them just as much as we all have!”

Bluey and Bandit, a female and a male, are 7 weeks old and are growing up under the dedicated care of the Australian Reptile Park zookeepers, who are ensuring their health and well-being during these crucial early stages of their lives. As they develop and learn essential survival skills, the zookeepers provide them with the necessary nurturing and guidance. Eventually, when Bluey and Bandit become independent, they will transition to the dingo exhibit, where visitors can observe their journey into adulthood.

Faulkner further explained, “As cute as the puppies are, they play a crucial role in raising species awareness. The dingo is so important in the Australian ecosystem. Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate on earth due to habitat distribution, agriculture, and most importantly, feral foxes and cats feeding on mammals that are in the critical weight range of five kilos or less.”

Dingoes are the largest land predators in Australia, serving as apex predators within the ecosystem. Unlike typical dog breeds, dingoes are as closely related to wolves as they are to dogs, with evidence suggesting they arrived as domesticated pets brought by Southeast Asian travellers around 4,000 years ago before reverting to their wild state. Over time, dingoes have adapted to Australia's diverse climates, resulting in three distinct types: desert, alpine, and northern dingoes.