"DINGOS: WILD, WISE AND MISUNDERSTOOD" with Kylie Cairns

"DINGOS: WILD, WISE AND MISUNDERSTOOD" with Kylie Cairns

From The Fur Real Podcast with Mark A Kyle by Mark A Kyle

February 17, 2026 · 1h 29m · Episode 126

About this episode

This episode explores the misunderstood nature of dingos and their role in ecosystems with guest Kylie Cairns.

Dingos have been called pests. Predators. Even villains. But what if we’ve been telling the wrong story? In this episode, Kylie Cairns takes us deep into the Australian outback to uncover the truth about one of the world’s most misunderstood canines. Are dingos wild dogs? A separate species? A missing evolutionary link? And what role do they really play in balancing fragile ecosystems? We explore the science behind their intelligence, the controversy surrounding their protection, and the powerful bond that can exist between humans and truly wild animals. From ancient DNA to modern conservation battles, this conversation challenges what we think we know about “man’s best friend.” Dingos aren’t just survivors of the harsh Australian landscape — they’re architects of it. Wild. Wise. And far more complex than most of us realize. www.dingofoundation.org www.thefurrealpodcast ig@ dr_cairns ig@ thefurrealpodcast ig@ markakyle fb@ Dingo Genetics Research fb@ Mark A Kyle tik tok@ thefurrealpodcast email k.cairns@unsw.edu.au mkyle@furrealpodcast Recent articles…

People in this episode

Host: Mark A Kyle

Guest: Kylie Cairns

Topics covered

  • dingos
  • wildlife conservation
  • ecosystems
  • animal intelligence
  • human-animal bond

Keywords

  • dingos
  • wild dogs
  • conservation
  • Australian wildlife
  • animal behavior

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Dingo Foundation, Dingo Genetics Research, The Conversation

Places: Australian outback

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