No Hope For Baby Taken By Dingo At Ayers Rock
Sydney Morning Herald
Tuesday April 18, 2006
THE search for a baby snatched by a wild dog late on Sunday will continue at first light today in the shadow of Ayers Rock.
Azaria Chamberlain, the 10-weeks-old daughter of Michael Chamberlain, 36, and his wife, Lindy, 32, was taken from her carry basket in a tent near the Rock.Mr Chamberlain, a Seventh- Day Adventist minister from Mount Isa, and his wife saw "a shape just like a dingo" slinking out of the tent at about 8.30am on Sunday."It had something in its mouth, but at that stage, in the darkness, we could not see what it was," he said. The couple ran to the tent and found Azaria gone."We don't hold out any hope for our baby. She must now be dead," said Mr Chamberlain.About 100 tourists, rangers and trackers searched yesterday for the missing child and the same number are expected today. Alice Springs police flew to Ayers Rock yesterday to join the search party. They believe that if a dingo took the baby, she may never be found. Sergeant J. Lincoln said that it appeared a dingo had been responsible."They roam through camp-sites at will in search of food ... "There are dingo lairs everywhere. If the baby has been taken into a cave, the possibility of recovery is almost nil."He said traces of blood were found on the basket and on a blanket. Hairs similar to those of a dingo were found around the basket, and the blanket had been torn as though bitten.An adult dingo would be able to carry Azaria, who weighs 4.5 kilograms, in its jaws.Several dog tracks led to and from the tent.Many of the animals loosely called dingoes around Ayers Rock are actually cross-breeds, some of them camp dogs.Forensic evidence taken in the tent yesterday is expected to indicate whether a dingo or another type of wild dog took the baby.The campsite, about a kilometre from the base of the Rock, is the only tourist camping area at the Rock.Inspector M. Gilroy of Alice Springs Police said dingoes had caused quite a nuisance recently by going into tents and looking for food."In the past two months there have been six people treated for dog bites out there," he said.Authorities on the behaviour of native dogs yesterday agreed it was highly unlikely a dingo would steal a baby, but nevertheless would not rule out the possibility.
© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald
