The Longest Fence in the World

Australia's Dingo Barrier Fence, the world's longest continuous fence, stretches over 5,000 kilometers to separate dingoes from sheep-grazing lands. Originally intended as a rabbit-proof fence, it was repurposed to protect the booming wool industry, which relied on vast, unsupervised sheep flocks. Ecologist Thomas Newsome explains that the fence has dramatically altered Australia's ecology, leading to kangaroo overpopulation, increased numbers of feral cats and foxes, and near extinction of native species like bilbies. While the wool industry has declined, the fence remains a potent symbol of Australia's agricultural heritage, making its potential removal a politically sensitive issue. On Gari (Fraser Island), where dingoes are legally protected, a recent tragedy involving a tourist has reignited debates about human-dingo coexistence and the impact of tourism.