Defend the Wild

Working to safeguard Australia’s unique apex predators and their habitats.
🐕🐊🦈🦅

09/08/2026

It’s whale migration season. Thousands of humpback whales make the incredible journey from Antarctica to the warmer waters of Queensland to give birth.

For many whales, the migration is filled with many obstacles - including the risk of becoming entangled in shark nets.

It’s time shark nets were removed for good and the waters are made safe for all marine life.

If you see a whale that appears to be entangled, report the sighting immediately to the ORRCA | Org. for the Rescue & Research of Cetaceans in Australia ORRCA Rescue Hotline on 02 9415 3333. If possible, note the whale’s location, direction of travel, speed, and any identifying features, and keep the animal in sight if it is safe to do so.

06/08/2026

SECURE YOUR TICKETS AT THE LINK IN OUR BIO 🐕

We are proud to introduce our panel member for the Melbourne screening of Moort: Calling Dingo Back to Country, followed by a special second screening of Landholders for Dingoes Film Wooleen: Utilising Dingoes as a Management Tool, David Po***ck.

David is often referred to as a modern day pastoralist who believes dingoes play an important role in maintaining the environmental landscapes, and, if given the chance, dingoes will help to repair the natural environment. David was only 27 years of age when he took over his family property of 153,000 hectare on Wajarri Yamatji Country in the Murchison region, 700 kilometres north of Perth.

David was a witness to the impacts of ecological damage done to the land from introduced species such as goats and wild pigs. One hundred plus years of intensive grazing saw the vegetation die and the land disintegrate into a red dust. David made a radical decision to remove the livestock, allowing the land an opportunity to repair and restore.

After some time, vegetation returned to many parts of the station, however, it was soon becoming destroyed by an over population of kangaroo’s and invasive species. This is when David decided on an ecological solution - reintroduce dingoes back into the area to keep the herbivore populations in balance, allowing the landscape to have time to regenerate - just as dingoes had done for thousands of years.

Event details:
Moort Calling Dingo Back to Country + Wooleen: Utilising Dingoes as a Management Tool
Double Short Film Screenings & Panel Discussion
6:30pm-8:00pm (doors open from 5pm, films begin at 6.30pm and doors close at 8.30pm)
| St. Kilda Town Hall, Naarm (Melbourne)

We hope to see you there! 🐕

03/08/2026

SECURE YOUR TICKETS AT THE LINK IN OUR BIO 🐕

We are proud to introduce our panel member for the Melbourne screening of Moort: Calling Dingo Back to Country, followed by a special second screening of Landholders for Dingoes Film Wooleen: Utilising Dingoes as a Management Tool, Dr Daniel Hunter.

Daniel is a wildlife biologist with specialist expertise in dingo ecology. He completed his PhD at the University of New South Wales, where he spent four years researching the role of dingoes in Australian forest ecosystems, with fieldwork across the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and the mid-north coast of NSW. His research has been published in leading journals including _Biological Conservation_, _Mammal Review_ and _Wildlife Research_.

Daniel is also a wildlife cinematographer whose work has featured in major international productions including the BBC’s _Seven Worlds, One Planet_, Apple TV+’s _Earth at Night in Colour_, and Netflix’s _Animal_. His time filming dingoes in the wild has resulted in rare behavioural documentation, including the first recorded footage of dingoes hunting kangaroos.

Daniel’s work focuses on increasing public understanding of the ecological importance of dingoes and their role in Australia’s ecosystems. We are very excited to have him join the panel.

Event details:
Moort Calling Dingo Back to Country + Wooleen: Utilising Dingoes as a Management Tool
Double Short Film Screenings & Panel Discussion
6:30pm-8:00pm (doors open from 5pm, films begin at 6.30pm and doors close at 8.30pm)
| St. Kilda Town Hall, Naarm (Melbourne)

We hope to see you there! 🐕

02/08/2026

Dingoes are not simply domestic dogs gone wild but instead they are Australia’s only land apex predator. For thousands of years, dingoes have adapted to the environment and are vital to ecosystem stability and sustaining biodiversity levels.

The more we understand them, the more we can appreciate and protect them.

30/07/2026

SECURE YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://events.humanitix.com/melbourne-screening-moort-calling-dingo-back-to-country-wooleen-utilising-dingoes-as-a-management-tool

We are proud to introduce our panel member for the Melbourne screening of Moort: Calling Dingo Back to Country, followed by a special second screening of Landholders for Dingoes Film Wooleen: Utilising Dingoes as a Management Tool, Sonya Grant.

Sonya is a proud Jirrbal rainforest Aboriginal woman and one of Australia’s leading voices for dingoes, working to ensure Indigenous knowledge, culture and perspectives are central to dingo conservation.

As the National First Nations Dingo Coordinator and founder of Dingo Culture, Sonya has been at the forefront of elevating the Aboriginal voice for dingoes across Australia. She was a driving force behind the groundbreaking 2023 National First Nations Dingo Forum, which brought together Traditional Custodians from across the continent to share knowledge, strengthen collaboration and develop a unified vision for the future of dingoes. The forum culminated in the landmark National First Nations Dingo Declaration, affirming the profound cultural, spiritual and ecological significance of dingoes and calling for their recognition, protection and culturally informed management.

Drawing on her cultural knowledge and years of advocacy, Sonya works to bridge Indigenous knowledge systems with contemporary conservation, championing approaches that recognise dingoes as an integral part of healthy Country. We look forward to hearing Sonya’s insights on the cultural significance of dingoes, First Nations leadership in conservation, and pathways toward a more respectful and informed future for Australia’s apex predator.

Event details:
Moort Calling Dingo Back to Country + Wooleen: Utilising Dingoes as a Management Tool
Double Short Film Screenings & Panel Discussion
6:30pm-8:00pm (doors open from 5pm, films begin at 6.30pm and doors close at 8.30pm)
| St. Kilda Town Hall, Naarm (Melbourne)

We hope to see you there! 🐕

29/07/2026

Apex predators play a role that is vital to the ecosystem. Yet too often, fear has spoken louder than understanding.

Co-existence is necessary. We don’t need to choose between people and wildlife. We can choose compassion, and a future where both can thrive.

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South Melbourne, VIC

Website

http://www.defendthewild.org/

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