Grieving parents travel to k’gari to honor daughter piper james as controversial dingo cull continues

The heartbroken parents of Canadian backpacker Piper James have arrived in Australia to make an emotional pilgrimage to K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), where their daughter is believed to have drowned. Todd and Angela James flew from Vancouver to Brisbane on Tuesday, beginning their journey to the World Heritage-listed sand island off Queensland’s coast to “walk where she last walked” and bid their final farewell.

The grieving family will participate in a traditional smoking ceremony conducted by K’gari’s Aboriginal traditional owners, providing a culturally meaningful way to honor Piper’s memory on the island where she spent her final days. This sacred ritual represents an important step in their process of returning their daughter’s remains to Canada.

The family’s visit occurs amid ongoing controversy surrounding a dingo cull on the island. Following the incident involving Piper James, wildlife authorities have been conducting culling operations targeting dingoes in the area, sparking debate among conservationists and local communities about wildlife management practices on the ecologically significant island.

K’gari, the world’s largest sand island, is renowned for its unique ecosystem and native dingo population. The island’s dingoes are considered some of the most genetically pure in Australia, making their conservation status a subject of ongoing environmental concern. As the James family seeks closure through their cultural ceremony, the broader conversation about balancing human safety with wildlife conservation continues to unfold on this treasured natural landscape.