Piper James was found dead on a beach in Queensland, Australia, on Monday, Jan. 19
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K’Gari Island, Fraser Island National Park, Australia.Credit : Ingrid_Hendriksen/Getty
The 19-year-old woman found dead while surrounded by a pack of wild dogs in Australia has been identified as Canadian Piper James.
A 19-year-old woman was found dead, surrounded by approximately 10 dingoes, Australia’s native wild dogs. She was discovered on the beach north of Maheno Wreck on the Queensland island of K’gari at around 6.30 a.m. local time on Monday, Jan. 19, Wide Bay District Inspector Paul Algie previously announced in a press conference.
Two men driving south near Orchid Beach spotted “a large pack of dingos” near an “object” which they quickly realized was a body, and the police were called to the scene, said Algie.
The woman has been confirmed as tourist Piper James. She had been on vacation with her friends before she was found unresponsive near Maheno Wreck, part of Seventy Five Mile Beach, News.com.au and 9News Australia reported.
James had been living with her friend Taylor Strecker on K’gari for six weeks and working at a backpackers’ hostel. She had gone for a swim at around 5 a.m., before her body was found around an hour later, per 9News Australia.
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Algie confirmed that the body had injuries “consistent with having been touched and interfered with by the dingoes.” The police added that among the injuries were “defensive wounds,” per News.com.au.
“We simply can’t confirm whether this young lady drowned or died as a result of being attacked by dingoes,” Algie said at the press conference.
The Queensland Police are investigating the incident.
A post-mortem examination is scheduled to determine the cause of death in mainland Queensland, per 9News Australia.
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An Australian dingo.Getty
“At the moment it’s a police matter and our response to any risk mitigation is increased patrols in the area,” Senior Ranger at the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships, Linda Behrendorff, told 9 News Australia.
If the death is ruled as a result of a dingo attack, this would mark the first fatality from an attack in Australia in 25 years, per 9News Australia.
Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour told the outlet that there have been “an escalating number of attacks” in the past five years and said that he is “not surprised” by this incident.
A Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation spokesperson confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE on Jan. 25 that more Rangers are patrolling K’gari in response to Monday’s incident.
“We are aware of the initial findings of Piper James’ autopsy. We extend our deepest sympathies to Piper’s family and loved ones,” said the spokesperson. “Rangers have closely monitored the pack of dingoes involved in the incident this week and have observed some aggressive behavior.”
The spokesperson continued, “Following the initial autopsy findings, this pack’s involvement in the incident, and observations since, this pack has been deemed an unacceptable public safety risk. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) Rangers are currently implementing actions accordingly. There is no public safety risk during this process.
“Dingoes involved in Monday’s incident will be humanely euthanized,” the statement concluded. “Public safety is our top priority, and this decision is informed and in the public interest.”
PEOPLE has reached out to the Queensland Police for comment, but didn’t immediately receive a response.
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