New Zealand’s Conservation Minister, Tama Potaka, has announced plans to eradicate feral cats by 2050, integrating them into the Predator Free 2050 Strategy for the first time. This addition comes after a decade of debate and backlash from animal rights activists. With over 2.5 million feral cats impacting native wildlife, including nearly wiping out the pukunui on Rakiura Stewart Island, the government aims to systematically target these predators through eradication programs.
Potaka emphasized the need to eliminate these “stone cold killers” to promote biodiversity and preserve heritage landscapes. Although feral cats are already hunted in some regions, more detailed strategies are expected by March 2026. Past campaigns against cats, such as Gareth Morgan’s “Cats to Go,” faced public outrage, but recent feedback indicates strong support (90%) for improving feral cat management.
While domestic cats threaten biodiversity too, they are not included in this strategy. Advocacy groups, including the National Cat Management Group, promote keeping cats indoors and are calling for laws requiring pet cats to be microchipped and desexed. Concerns about humane methods for managing feral cats remain a significant challenge, with calls for more funding and research for better solutions. Morgan remarked on the initial omission of feral cats from the strategy and the need for policy changes to address this issue effectively.
Source link
