Kooyong was born in April of 2009, and arrived at Wild Spirit with her family in April of 2013. Kooyong and her companion, Buckley, were part of a breeding program overseen by the Dingo Discovery and Research Center in Australia, which has been an official conservation organization since 2007. The Centre finds zoos and sanctuaries outside of Australia that are willing to care for a breeding pair of dingoes and their offspring to help ensure that the species survives.

Occasionally, a breeding pair goes to a private home instead of a facility, as was the case for Kooyong and Buckley who went to live with a husband and wife in Florida. The couple gave their dingoes great care and eventually Kooyong had a litter of six pups while in their care! Unfortunately, while the dingoes were well cared for, the human family went through a rough patch. The husband tried to sell Kooyong’s pups and quickly found out that it was illegal. He then left his family, taking all their funds and leaving the dingoes.

Soon after, Buckley and his sons had a terrible fight that resulted in Buckley being euthanized due to devastating injuries. With tremendous sadness, the woman decided the remaining dingoes needed placement in new homes. Two of Kooyong’s pups found a home at a zoo, and the rest of the family came to be with us here at Wild Spirit.

Thus, Kooyong and three of her pups, Aussie, Glacier and Uluru joined the Wild Spirit family. They quickly became favorites among the staff and tour guests, mostly due to Kooyong’s social nature.