Why Australia Plans to Kill Millions of Feral Cats
In a controversial move to preserve native fauna, the Australian government is using poisoned sausages to kill 2 million feral cats by 2020. The plan to “cull” 2 million feral cats was set into motion in 2015, and has faced much controversy and criticism. Most recently, the government has settled on sausages stuffed with a potent poison containing the active ingredient sodium fluoroacetate, known as “1080.” The sausages are made of a blend of kangaroo meat, chicken, and other spices designed to appeal to feral cats.
Marked as "invasive predators," feral cats in the wilds of Australia kill hundreds of millions of native birds, mammals, and reptiles each year. Cats arrived with European settlers in the 1700s and are thus classified as an invasive species, one that has apparently been wreaking havoc on native wildlife.
JOSEPH JOHNSON
According to the New York Times, feral cat overpopulation has already led to the extinction of many native species; 34 mammal species found only in Australia have vanished. The Times wrote that cats are thought to be directly responsible for 22 of those extinctions.
While these numbers are certainly devastating, there are Australian scientists who question the basis of targeting 2 million feral cats. The scientists, in part, say the government had not given a clear metric or scientific reason for that number.
They had failed to indicate how, or whether, the cull would actually impact the feral cat population - as feral cats reproduce at very rapid rates. They also did not necessarily state how and whether the culling of 2 million feral cats would actually increase the populations of endangered species. Estimates of the number of feral cats actually living in Australia vary widely.
The researchers published a paper in the journal Conservation Letters, in which they questioned the 2 million target:
“The focus on killing cats runs the risk of distracting attention away from other threats to biodiversity, most prominent of which is widespread, ongoing habitat loss, which has been largely overlooked in the Threatened Species Strategy.” While feral cats are a big issue, according to CNN, the government has focused heavily on them over more “politically sensitive” issues like habitat loss caused by urban expansion, logging, and mining.
The researchers continued in their published paper: "The culling target [of 2 million] is a highly visible symbol of a broader campaign around feral cat research and management in Australia, rather than a direct indicator of conservation action and success. We are concerned that progress toward the 2 million target could be misinterpreted as progress toward conserving threatened species when the link between the two is not clear.”
Similarly, Kelly O’Shanassy, chief executive of the Australian Conservation Foundation, called the program "commendable;" however, she also states it fails to address habitat loss, which is an even greater threat to vulnerable species.
"The strategy … fails to meaningfully address the biggest threat to threatened species and ecological communities — the loss and fragmentation of habitat — either through investment in new protected areas or by safeguarding existing critical places," she told The Guardian.
This plan to cull cats not only in the hundreds of thousands, but in the millions, is why programs like Trap, Netuer, Release are important to stopping feral cat overpopulation over time. TNR programs reduce the number of feral kittens being born and work to prevent overpopulation.
What is TNR?
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is a proven humane method to spay or neuter unaltered feral cats by safely trapping them, then returning them to the location where they were picked up.
- Trap: All feral cats in a colony, or as many as possible, are humanely trapped.
- Neuter: The trapped cats are taken to an animal or veterinary clinic to be spayed or neutered, receive vaccinations, and are sometimes marked by eartipping to let people know that the cat has been through the TNR process.
- Return: Healthy adult feral cats are returned to their outdoor homes, where their lives are greatly improved without the strains of mating behaviors (aggression, fighting) and pregnancy. Stray cats and kittens that are socialized to humans are adopted into homes.
I wonder if they have thought about the potential poisoning of other animals who eat these cats who have died? They may end up with a snowball effect and cause even more damage to the wildlife.
I believe in TNR and I feel that would be a better solution to poisoning.
HUMANS, not cats, are the biggest cause of species extinction, far and away; and those pointing out the fallacies in the Australian government’s plan are absolutely correct.
Alley Cat Allies CEO Becky Robinson, who has decades of expertise in dealing humanely and effectively with outdoor cats, travelled to Australia in order to inform their government and hopefully convince them of the need to implement TNR. She failed. And now we have vengeful, ill-informed bumblers seeking to eradicate two million innocent cats to solve the problem THEIR ANCESTORS began and they themselves are continuing.
May those they are seeking to save eat these baits! and may other “non-target” invididuals, of whatever species, also fall prey to this diabolical scheme. For those that implemented it, may they reap what they have sown.
I just posted my comment on the poisoning. I did not think I could post my e-mail address but I will give it a try. I wanted to take this opportunity to give information about the cruel practice of Pigeon Racing. I am the ‘’Birdman of long beach’’ rescued and rehabbed over 4,000 pigeons off the street for 10 straight years with many published stories under my name Dan Lubniewski or Birdman of long beach and Images are also available if you click on Images. If anyone finds a injured pigeon around LA or Long Beach Ca. area I have a friend with aviaries with hundreds of permanently disabled pigeons that would most likely take in a injured pigeon so contact me for his contact information. Also Long Beach Animal Hospital on Anahein St. takes in pigeons for free and you just fill out a short Wildlife Form. Pigeons were war heroes and are one of the sweetest and smartest animals on earth. They don’t carry diseases to humans – all lies from pest control companies to sell products. Please do not return banded Racing Pigeons back to Racing Clubs. Once they are not satisfied with their performance they kill most of them with no remorse. They keep a few with good blood lines for breeding and that’s about it in most cases – mr.lee@inbox.com – Dan Lubniewski – if you contact me please watch your Spam for a response back because I will respond back, thank you
As the article states these delicious sausage snacks are laced with Kangaroo meat, not entirely sure if the destruction of a native species is required to save the population of feral kittens and cats. As an advocate upon the salvation of natural resources, I do agree with the bird man from Long Beach CA, USA in regards to the chains effect where large animal eats small animal and as the poison gets smaller, the victims get larger.
Insecticide kills the bugs birds eat, birds then are hunted by cats and the poison is brought back down to earth. We as humans have control over the contaminated species yet a vast majority of natural wildlife needs to be identified. Of kangaroos are being slaughtered for the sake of a kitten then we both need to re-evaluate the food source for ourselves and these wonderful (natives) in the Outback.
With all the people banning travel to Australia you are sure to have a loss in your economy. I am one of those people to vow never going to Australia because of this. TNR is alot better way to handle the feral cat population. This is the peoples fault, not the poor cats! What about the loss of habitat? Another way humans have sqrewed things up for your endangered species! Stop blaming the cats and point the finger where it belongs!
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