Young dingo walking the sand dunes at Myall Lakes on the coast of New South Wales. Photo: Chontelle Burns, Nouveau Rise Photography, Newcastle, NSW
New genetic analysis reveals dingo populations have less dog ancestry than previously thought.
Although considered to be an Australian native - dingoes are thought to be descendants of South Asian wolves and possibly introduced to the country by seafarers.
In recent decades, concerns have been raised that pure bred dingoes were on the decline due to crossbreeding with domestic dogs and wild dogs.
There were also fears that interbreeding could result in dingo extinction.
Dr Kylie Cairns is a a conservation biologist from the University of New South Wales.
She has led a study which has shown dingo-dog mixes in the wild are rare, but pure bred dingoes are still at risk.
