Australia actually declares ‘war’ on cats, plans to kill 2 million by 2020 (GGT)

[GennGreymane]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...llion-by-2020/

The Australian government announced plans to cull up to 2 million feral cats by 2020 in a bid to preserve dozens of native species that authorities claim face extinction because of the cats' predatory behavior.

Speaking to a national radio station, Gregory Andrews, the country's first threatened-species Commissioner, said Australian Environment Minister Greg Hunt "is declaring war on feral cats, and he's asked me to take charge of that program."

Hunt unveiled the five-year plan at a Melbourne zoo on Thursday, vowing to protect Australia's native mammal and bird populations.

"We are drawing a line in the sand today which says, 'On our watch, in our time, no more species extinction,'" Hunt said.

All of Australia's states and territories have agreed to list feral cats as "pests." The bulk of the government funding for the plan will go to administering the culls, which will involve baiting, shooting or poisoning feral cats. The government is taking many steps to prove that these actions will be carried out in as "humane and effective" a manner as possible.

"By 2020, I want to see 2 million feral cats culled, five new islands and 10 new mainland 'safe havens' free of feral cats, and control measures applied across 10 million hectares," Hunt said.

So what's so wrong about the cats?

The animals were introduced to the Antipodes about 200 years ago by European settlers and bred and spread rapidly across the Australian continent and New Zealand. According to one estimate, the roughly 20 million cats in Australia kill roughly 75 million native animals a day.

According to Britain's Guardian newspaper, Australia has one of the worst extinction records in the world, losing about 29 native mammal species since the European arrival. It now lists some 1,800 species as under threat.

Some of the most endangered animals include the greater bilby...

This is hardly the first time the scourge of feral cats has made national headlines in this part of the world. In 2013, a prominent economist turned environmental activist in New Zealand called for the wholesale eradication of the country's cats, deeming them "natural born killers."

Gareth Morgan's Web site contains this appeal to save New Zealand's native fauna, which developed as species for centuries in isolation:

New Zealand is the last refuge of a huge range of bird species, we’re famous for our claim to be clean and green, and some of us have recognised the huge economic benefit, let alone the ecological dividend, from achieving a Predator Free New Zealand.

But the vision is flawed. Almost half of Kiwi households have a cat (or two) making New Zealanders the world’s biggest cat owners 1. Cats are incredibly effective hunters and are wiping out our native birds.

The rest of the site is a jarring read, replete with cartoon drawings vilifying cats and explanatory text with headings such as "Your cat is not innocent."

Australian officials took a different line.

"It's very important to emphasize, too, that we don't hate cats," cautioned Andrews, the threatened-species commissioner. "We just can't tolerate the damage that they're doing anymore to our wildlife."

[Ripster42]

Many places try to get rid of invasive species.

[Deleted]

Arent there countries nearby where they eat cats?

[Wilian]

They should make cat burgers out of them. Waste not.

[Auxis]

They should make cat burgers out of them. Waste not.

I think our farmers did that when the kangaroo's were uprising.

[ItachiZaku]

Feral is very OP in the lower brackets. I mean, disc priest bubble goes down, rip, shred, tiger, shred bite, NEXT! I can't imagine 3 ferals in one BG, let alone 2 million.

[cyndallis]

The funny thing is people are getting upset about this in the news and yet go back just a few years and the Australian government was looking to use a feline parvovirus to eradicate feral cats. The 'silver bullet' virus was deemed inhumane because of the pain the animals would suffer and because of the costs associated with immunisations for domestic cats.

There is no silver bullet and because of irresponsible pet owners we're in a shit situation. Because of their large numbers trapping isn't helping and shooting and baiting are the only humane option we have left.

Going forward it would be great if the government put tighter regulations on the sale of domestic pets which have not been desexed (breeders license and restricted sales), gave incentives for adopting animals and introduced mandatory chipping. Not really holding my breath though.

[Rukh]

Australia has giant spiders, human eating lizards and snakes, crabs that can cut you in half, but you know what's really scary? Cats.

[Reeve]

I think our farmers did that when the kangaroo's were uprising.

Kangaroo burger is actually pretty tasty.

[Deleted]

Finally, a cat video I would enjoy watching!

[cyndallis]

Australia has giant spiders, human eating lizards and snakes, crabs that can cut you in half, but you know what's really scary? Cats.

For some reason this comes to mind.

[Vetis]

I know cats devastated wildlife in new zealand - the flightless birds in particular, wouldn't surprise me if it was the same in australia.

[zoefschildpad]

Australia has giant spiders, human eating lizards and snakes, crabs that can cut you in half, but you know what's really scary? Cats.

Don't forget about the rabbits, they are at least as bad.

[Doctor Amadeus]

Some day those Cats are going to rise up and slay their evil oppressors and when the final dawn folds and these four legged felines emerge as humanities new overlords, I shall reflect back on this day, and ask, where was I now.

[Reeve]

Some day those Cats are going to rise up and slay their evil oppressors and when the final dawn folds and these four legged felines emerge as humanities new overlords, I shall reflect back on this day, and ask, where was I now.

[ro9ue]

Nerf Feral.

[Faroth]

Australia has giant spiders, human eating lizards and snakes, crabs that can cut you in half, but you know what's really scary? Cats.

Actually, makes you realize how clever the cats are. The feral cats are breeding, surviving, and thriving in the most populous "every creature wants to kill you" region they could ask for.

"Hi, I'm Ricky Bobby.
And I'm Cal Norton Jr.
We form an alliance on the race track to win races, but today we're forming an alliance to talk to you about a very serious, important issue: packs of stray wild [cats] that control most of the cities in [Australia]. Remember, stray [cats] are not your friend. However, if you see one, walk right up to it and lay down.
If it starts to sniff you, that's a good sign. If it begins to bite, you're in trouble, friend. Grab a pole."

[Auxis]

Kangaroo burger is actually pretty tasty.

It's a nice meat. Had it as a roast and in sausages.

[Deleted]

And so it begins eight decades after the crushing defeat by the Emus the Australians decided to look for another forthy foe.

[Hyve]

How is this newsworthy? Culls happen every day, all over the planet...