In rural North Canterbury, a hunter was awarded $608 for killing the largest feral cat, weighing 6.7 kg, during a feral cat killing contest held last weekend. The event attracted 1,500 hunters, including 460 children accompanied by adults. Feral cats prey on endangered birds, bats, and lizards and have pushed some species to the brink of extinction, according to the New Zealand Department of Conservation.
The most recent feral cat killing competition saw hunters kill 370 feral cats, along with wild boars, possums, rats, and deer. Organizer Matt Bailey said that the contest was necessary to eradicate feral cats that prey on native wildlife and spread diseases to livestock. He called feral cats the devil and said that it’s great to hear native birds singing but their numbers are dwindling because of feral cats’ killing spree.
Feral cat hunts are limited to areas at least 10km from human settlements. Many conservation groups want to include feral cats in New Zealand’s plan to eradicate pests by 2050 alongside stoats, rats, possums, and ferrets. However, the issue is sensitive in New Zealand where nearly half of households have cats as pets. The organizers of the event announced they would expand the event next year with increased prize money to make it bigger and better.
