4,600 and 18,300 years ago, the dingo's status as a native or introduced species in Australia has been a controversy. According to Dr. Mike Letnic, at the Centre for Ecosystem Science, UNSW, the dingo, as Australia's top predator, has an important role in maintaining the balance of nature and that reintroduced or existing dingo populations could increase biodiversity across more than 2 million square kilometres of Australia (Avolia 2009). Where dingoes had been exterminated, Dr. Letnic found increased abundances of introduced red foxes and herbivores, while small native mammals and grasses were lost. In 2011 the Liberal MP for Stuart, Dan van Holst Pellekaan, called for a $200 bounty on dingoes. Although the fence has helped reduce the loss of sheep to predators, the exclusion of dingoes has allowed for increased pasture competition from rabbits, kangaroos and emus. Sheep are being lost to increasing numbers of feral dogs. Drone and satellite technology have illustrated how removing dingos changes vegetation growth. See also Agricultural fencing Rabbit-proof fence Separation barrier Temporary fencing Gallery References 1885 establishments in Australia Fences Borders of Queensland Borders of New South Wales Borders of South Australia Infrastructure completed in 1885 Agriculture in New South Wales Agriculture in Queensland Agriculture in South Australia Canis lupus dingo