Dingo Took Her Baby

So, the Northern Territory courts have finally ruled that Azaria Chamberlain was killed by a dingo, ending a thirty-two year old case.

What’s always struck me as truly bizarre about the case is the way the idea of a dingo attack was practically dismissed out of hand in the original trial and in public opinion at the time. Dingos are wild dogs – or, in other words, wolves. Now, granted, as far as killer Australia animals go, that’s pretty boring, but still – you’d think they’d be pretty near the top of the list for animals with a reputation for eating babies…