A specialized team of five expert shooters will soon begin operations to target feral cats in New South Wales (NSW) national parks. This initiative is part of the state’s intensified efforts to manage the growing population of these invasive animals.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) announced the ground operation in response to rising feral cat numbers, as noted by Deputy Secretary Atticus Fleming. “Intensive, well-targeted ground shooting operations will now be integrated into an enhanced strategy,” Fleming stated. This strategy includes trials of cat baits, the deployment of innovative traps, the establishment of large feral cat-free zones, and investigations into genetic control methods.
Jack Gough, Advocacy Director at the Invasive Species Council, praised this “modest investment” in feral cat management and expressed hope for long-term funding for these initiatives. He emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive approach to managing both feral and roaming pet cats, highlighting that “5 million native mammals, birds, reptiles, and frogs are killed by feral and roaming pet cats in Australia every day.”
Gough further noted the devastating impact of feral cats, stating, “Since their introduction by Europeans over 200 years ago, feral cats have driven at least 25 native species to extinction.” He stressed that the survival of many native species is at direct risk due to the predatory prowess of feral cats.
The populations of feral cats, along with other invasive species such as deer and pigs, tend to surge following periods of significant rainfall and favorable seasonal conditions. Gough explained that increased rainfall leads to a rise in prey availability, allowing feral cats to breed rapidly. “It’s not unexpected that the numbers of feral cats have increased. And when their numbers grow, the pressure on our native species escalates,” he said.
In September, the federal government announced funding for 55 projects aimed at controlling feral cats and indicated plans to release an updated national threat abatement plan later this year. Gough emphasized that addressing this issue will require sustained effort and funding from both national and state governments, employing a comprehensive toolkit that includes ground shooting, trapping, baiting, and emerging artificial intelligence technologies.
Gough also urged Premier Chris Minns to implement clear regulations regarding cat containment, bringing NSW in line with most other states. Such measures would empower councils to prevent “roaming pets from killing our neighborhood wildlife and silencing our suburbs.”
However, some animal rights organizations oppose lethal control methods for non-native species. The Animal Justice Party acknowledges the environmental issues posed by non-native species, including feral cats, but objects to the label “feral.” The party advocates for research and policies focused on non-lethal control methods and promotes “responsible animal guardianship,” which includes keeping companion animals secure at home to mitigate accidental breeding and abandonment.
In the Australian Capital Territory, new regulations mandate that all cats born after July 2022 must be contained on their owner’s premises, with several suburbs designated as cat containment areas for conservation purposes—restricting cats of any age from roaming freely.
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