The History of Big Desert Dingo Research:
Tracing its Beginnings and Milestones.

In 2023, Big Desert Dingo Research was established by Leesh Martion, a highly motivated researcher with a passion for the dingo cause. Leesh's interest in dingoes began in 2020 when she received a trail camera as a gift and started camera trapping for dingoes. Over the next three years, Leesh built a collection of her own trail cameras and checked them weekly, hiking over 20kms every weekend.

 

Today, Leesh is collaborating with Deakin University and is responsible for setting up over 60 trail cameras across more than 20 sites within the Big Desert/Wyperfeld complex. Leesh has also assisted DEECA with collecting scat swab samples for population research and submitted tissue samples from the Big Desert and Mitta Mitta Valley regions to Dr Kylie Cairns for genetic testing.

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In 2024, Leesh had the privilege of scouting potential filming locations for Dr Daniel Hunter, a world-renowned cinematographer and ecologist. Dr Hunter has filmed footage for David Attenborough documentaries, the BBC, National Geographic, and Netflix. The results of their collaboration, (along with Dingo Coexistence) can be seen on an episode of ABC's 7.30 report.

 

Leesh is committed to advocating for the protection of dingoes throughout Australia, including those in Ngarkat Conservation Park, where the Big Desert population is baited with 1080 poison every three months. Despite the Allan government's announcement of full protection for the Big Desert dingo population in March 2024, Leesh recognises that there is still a mountain of work to be done to ensure the safety and preservation of not just the Big Desert population, but all dingoes across the country.