Dingoes arrive at Saskatoon zoo

Families crowded around the glass at the Forestry Farm Park and Zoo on Friday morning as Saskatoon got its first glimpse at the latest pair of immigrants from Australia: Maple and Euci, sister dingo pups.

The Aussie wild dogs were unveiled to the public after an extended wait due to animal export issues and a broken crate, after originally being set to debut in the spring.

They’re now here for good, taking over the old wolf enclosure across from the Meerkat house.

“It’s been a long one that’s for sure,” zoo manager Tim Sinclair-Smith said of the waiting period.

“But I’m sure everybody will agree when they come here and meet Euci and Maple that it was worth the wait.”

The dingoes are officially here at Forestry Farm Park and Zoo! #yxe pic.twitter.com/Jpmuo8bjU7

— Chris Vandenbreekel (@Vandecision) August 9, 2019

The enclosure was renovated, with chain-link fencing replaced by glass panels recovered from Saskatoon’s old downtown arena — which was demolished in 1989. Meshing was also embedded underneath the pen to prevent the dingoes from digging out.

“They’re very intelligent … that’s why we had to make sure their habitat was escape-proof,” he said. “They almost use paws like hands so they can climb to the top of that fence no problem.”

The sisters chased each other around the enclosure for part of their first hour on display, occasionally locking jaws and knocking each other over.

“They’re very playful, very loving,” Sinclair-Smith said. “They like to run around, wrestle, play.”

The canines were brought over in partnership with the Australian Dingo Foundation, which has been maintaining the wild dog’s breed purity and advocating for their protection.

They’re expected to be in Saskatoon for life, and were chosen because they’re considered “alpine” dingoes with a double coat in the winter. But they may have to be brought inside during the city’s coldest weather.

“Can anyone hold up to a Saskatoon winter?” the zoo manager asked. “In February I was just about to crawl in with the bears and hibernate.”

Sinclair-Smith, who grew up in Australia and has worked with dingoes his whole life, said the animals are “persecuted” as pests.

“I know that’s a strong word, but we have to use strong language with this,” he said.

“Dingoes should have a native (species) status, but they’re still hunted and they’re still baited … they are threatened.”

Dingoes have existed in Australia for around 3,000 to 4,000 years according to National Geographic, co-existing with Indigenous tribes or separating and running as a wild dog. Sinclair-Smith said they’re vilified by farmers for occasionally hunting down livestock, particularly sheep.

But he’s hoping people in Saskatoon will fall in love with the dingoes at the zoo and help advocate for the species.

“These girls are ambassadors for their species, and hopefully we can get that changed and get the Australian government to reclassify them,” he said.

Euci and Maple are named for both Australia and Canada’s national trees, the eucalyptus and maple. They’re also believed to be the only purebred dingoes to ever live in a Canadian zoo.

Sinclair-Smith said there were mixed-breed dingoes at the Saskatoon zoo before, but they were bred with coyotes and labradors.

“We’re it,” he said. “If you want to see purebred dingoes you have to come to Saskatoon.”

The zoo is also working on a fundraising program where people will be able to pay to enter into the dingo enclosure to hang out with the canines, and there will be separate opportunities for photos with Maple and Euci outside the pen.

Feeding time! The children were jealous of the zoo worker. "I want to pet them mama!" #yxe pic.twitter.com/XbGYTcl5Nm

— Chris Vandenbreekel (@Vandecision) August 9, 2019