"Unprecedented Ecosystem Disruptor"... The Country Declaring War on Stray Cats

Every Year, 200 Million Reptiles and Birds Killed in Australia
Household Cat Limits and Capture Technology Development Underway

Thousands of native animal species in Australia, which are facing extinction, are being attacked by feral cats, prompting the Australian government to declare a 'war on feral cats.'

On the 7th (local time), according to the Sydney Morning Herald and others, Tanya Plibersek, Australia's Minister for the Environment, declared a "war on feral cats" on the occasion of the 'National Threatened Species Day' the previous day.

According to a study released by the Australian Department of Environment, feral cats have affected about two-thirds of the mammals that have gone extinct in Australia over the past 200 years. They also threaten more than 200 species designated as nationally endangered, including the Greater Bilby (a type of Australian rabbit), the numbat, and the Gilbert potoroo (a rat kangaroo).
[Photo by AFP·Yonhap News]

Minister Plibersek claimed that Australia's feral cats kill 6 million reptiles, birds, and mammals every night, totaling over 200 million annually.

Minister Plibersek emphasized, "If we do not take immediate action, native animals have no chance of survival," adding, "If we are serious about protecting our precious threatened species, we must address the feral cat issue."

Two-thirds of Mammals Extinct in Australia Affected by Feral Cats

The Australian numbat endangered by feral cats [Photo by Xinhua·Yonhap News]

According to research released by the Australian Department of the Environment, feral cats have impacted about two-thirds of the mammals that have gone extinct in Australia over the past 200 years. They also threaten more than 200 species designated as nationally threatened, including the Greater Bilby (a type of Australian rabbit), the numbat, and the Gilbert's potoroo (a rat-kangaroo).

In response, Minister Plibersek announced plans to hold public consultations to gather residents' opinions and finalize specific measures by December. Topics for consultation include setting curfew hours for pet cats at night, neutering requirements, and limits on the number of cats per household.

Additionally, the Australian government plans to introduce tools that spray toxic gel to kill feral cats and is considering developing new trapping technologies to capture and euthanize the cats.

Jack Gough, manager of the Invasive Species Council (ISC) in Australia, welcomed the plan, emphasizing, "All states should classify feral cats as pests and support control tools and develop their own plans."

Research from Flinders University in Australia indicates that feral cats are the most destructive invasive species in the country. They not only kill native animals but also compete with native predators for food and spread diseases, causing an estimated annual damage of about 19 billion Australian dollars (approximately 16.1 trillion Korean won).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.