It is actually hard to believe what kind of bizarre competition should have taken place in New Zealand: children were asked to kill as many feral cats as possible: these are considered a nuisance on the island. Now the questionable game has been called off – but not out of pity for the wildcats…
The peculiar competition – strange as it may seem – is based on conservation. Because the feral domestic cats are a serious problem in New Zealand and Australia. Each year, these non-native predators kill billions of mammals, birds and other creatures. The rare New Zealand bird species kiwi is also a popular prey. The runner animal is only found in New Zealand and is the symbol of the island nation.
So the organizers of an annual hunting competition came up with the idea of introducing a separate shooting category for the feral cats – thus protecting the native animal populations from the skilled hunters.
Shooting feral cats is not illegal in New Zealand
The child up to age 14 who killed the most feral cats would have been awarded a prize of NZ$250. Last year, only possums, ducks, rabbits, rats and geese were on the hit list of the young participants. Including feral cats as prey for the competition would not have broken any law.
But now the category has been deleted: the danger to domestic cats was too great. Feral cats are “virtually impossible” to distinguish from domestic cats belonging to humans. Whether the prey was legitimate, the young hunters would not have recognized until it was already dead and it was determined whether the animal had been microchipped. Finally, after an outcry from society and the media, the organizers withdrew. The cat category has been removed.
Cats have contributed to the extinction of dozens of species
A research report from 1978 clearly showed what a major problem cats are for native species in New Zealand. According to this, the velvet paws have zContributed to the extinction of at least six endemic bird species and over 70 subspecies. The cat was introduced in the mid-18th century along with other mammals – these disrupted the island’s ecosystem. The New Zealand government has therefore set itself ambitious goals: by 2050, New Zealand wants to have eradicated introduced pests such as opossums, rats, mice and ermines. Cats are not on this list because they are the very animals they aspire to.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
