A woman found a dingo puppy in her backyard after it apparently fell from an eagle's claws; two years later, he returned to the sanctuary that raised him

A woman who found a dingo puppy in her backyard, apparently dropped from an eagle’s claws, has been reunited with the animal two years on. The puppy, named Wandi, is a rare Alpine Dingo. Jane Guiney found him in north-east Victoria, and DNA testing later confirmed he was a purebred. He was raised at the Dingo Discovery Sanctuary and Research Centre, and he came back to the area where he was found with his partner, Hermione, and two of their puppies. The reunion also took in a visit to a local primary school, whose students had followed Wandi’s remarkable journey.What happened to the dingo puppy two years after his backyard discoveryJane Guiney found Wandi in her backyard in north-east Victoria. According to ABC News, she heard the puppy whining in the yard after he had apparently fallen from an eagle’s claws. He is believed to have been taken from his mother by the eagle when he was between eight and 10 weeks old.Guiney picked the young animal up and looked after him in the early days. DNA testing later confirmed that Wandi was a purebred Alpine Dingo, a rare type of dingo. His discovery drew considerable attention because it offered evidence that pure dingoes were still present in Victoria.How did Wandi find a partner and start a family at the dingo sanctuaryAfter he was found, Wandi was taken to the Dingo Discovery Sanctuary and Research Centre, where he spent the next few years. The sanctuary became his home, and there he met Hermione, who became his partner. The pair had their first litter of puppies in 2021, and the sanctuary kept two of their offspring.Sanctuary supervisor Kevin Newman, who also became Wandi’s manager, called the animal a valuable ambassador for the species. Speaking to ABC News, Newman said: “Even we as a sanctuary had that thought too, until Wandi literally fell from the sky and proved everyone wrong.” He was referring to the belief, once held by some scientists, that no pure dingoes remained in Victoria.How did Jane Guiney react when she reunited with Wandi after two yearsTwo years after he was found, Wandi went back to the area where Guiney had discovered him. The reunion was an emotional one for her, especially as she had cared for him straight after he arrived. Speaking about seeing him again, Guiney told ABC News: “It was an amazing feeling, just looking at the mountains and knowing that this is his home.”She also believed that Wandi recognised her when they met. Describing his behaviour, she said: “The way he came up to me and was getting protection from my son Ed, who was with me when I found him. I’m hoping [he remembered me] anyway.”Wandiligong Primary School made the reunion possible. Its students had been writing letters to Wandi after hearing about his unusual story and forming a connection with the sanctuary. Wandi visited the school with Hermione and their two puppies, Harriet and Jirrikit. The visit gave the students a chance to see the animals and learn more about dingoes.Why are dingoes in Victoria facing conservation challengesWandi’s discovery also drew attention to the conservation challenges facing dingoes in Victoria. Newman told ABC News that the species was threatened in the state and needed greater protection. He estimated that between 600 and 800 dingoes remained in the wild in Victoria, though he acknowledged there was not enough data to give an exact population figure.He also pointed to the legal restrictions affecting the animals. Dingoes are classed as a threatened protected species in Victoria, but an order in council makes an exception for those found on private property or within three kilometres of it. Newman said the sanctuary wanted this arrangement changed, explaining: “They are a threatened protected species in Victoria ... they need our help and they need our protection.”How does 1080 poison threaten dingoes in the wildNewman raised another concern: the use of meat baits containing 1080 poison. These baits are used across Australia to protect agricultural production and native flora and fauna from the effects of pest animals. Dingoes can also fall victim to the poison, which affects their numbers in the wild.Newman referred to a Victorian ecosystem decline inquiry and its recommendations on how dingoes should be managed in future. He told ABC News that the recommendations included phasing out the use of 1080 poison and looking into the possibility of reintroducing dingoes into the wild.Wandi’s story has also raised public interest in the species. According to Newman, the misconception that dingoes are simply wild dogs has fed misunderstandings about their conservation status. Since Wandi was found, four dingo puppies have turned up around the Alpine area, bringing further attention to the species in the region.His return to the place where he was first found brought him back to the woman who first cared for him and to the community that had followed his journey. By then, Wandi had become an ambassador for dingoes through his work at the sanctuary and the attention his discovery brought to the species.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.