PACKS of wild dogs are emerging from Australia’s drought-scorched inland, attacking farmers.

The dogs, offspring of escaped farm or hunting dogs, are encroaching on inhabited areas as they follow their prey — kangaroos — to the shrinking band of irrigated farmland.

Simon Scoular, a New South Wales animal-control ranger, patrols the Hunter Valley, noted for its wineries and horse studs, where the severe drought has driven kangaroos into irrigated farming areas close to small towns. So many wild dogs have followed the kangaroos eastwards that Mr Scoular has been called out to defend miners and farmers from marauding packs.

“Just the sheer ’roo numbers in the Hunter, it’s enough to keep these dogs going for a long time,” Mr Scoular said.

Queensland is suffering its severest drought for a century. Ancient gum trees are dying. Thargomindah, in the state’s southwest, has just had its first rain for nearly five years.

The Anglican Archbishop of Perth, the Most Rev Roger Herft, concerned over increased depression and suicide, will next week fly out to offer comfort to Western Australia’s small farming communities. The state’s wheat production this season is expected to be less than half the normal level.

Single women who can no longer bear the drought are said to be leaving. Jock Laurie, of the NSW Farmers Association, said: “There really aren’t many females out in some country towns. We are going to have major problems keeping families in the bush if this decline continues.”

Vast areas of the sheep and cattle country of western New South Wales have been in drought conditions for up to five years and farmers are in desperate straits. Colin Leggo has to cut scrub with a chainsaw for his cattle to eat.

Some farmers qualify for “exceptional circumstances” payments. But according to some scientists, climate change means that farms in the worst-hit areas cannot recover sufficiently. One, Professor Peter Cullen, believes that up to 10 per cent of Australia’’s farmland is now unviable.

The forecast that Perth will run out of water within ten years unless usage is not slowed has prompted the urgent construction of a desalination plant. Nevertheless, some scientists, including Dr Tim Flannery, suggest that the city may be doomed.

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