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Today’s story is one of reprieve rather than rescue. In a move that has shocked and angered animal lovers worldwide, a competition encouraging children in New Zealand to shoot and kill feral cats for cash prizes has been called off after intense backlash from animal rights groups and the public.
source: blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com
Feral cat bounty competition cancelled after backlash
Hosted by the North Canterbury Hunting Competition, the competition had offered children under the age of 14 the opportunity to win roughly $150 for shooting the most feral cats by the end of June.
Feral cats are a significant threat to the native wildlife of New Zealand, including endangered birds like the kiwi, which are flightless.
They typically prey on birds, bird eggs, bats, lizards, and native insects, according to officials there. Despite this being a huge problem, many were outraged by the idea of offering cash incentives to children to kill cats.
Wildlife conservation efforts threatened by feral cat population
Conservation authorities in New Zealand have set a goal to eradicate all non-native pests by 2050, including feral cats, stoats, possums, rats, and mice that have decimated the fauna of the country over the centuries.
However, the idea of promoting a hunting competition that involved children was met with disgust and horror.
The rules of the competition stated that any cat embedded with a microchip would be disqualified, but animal rights groups pointed out that this would not be a deterrent, as the cat would already be dead by that point.
Moreover, it was feared that children could easily mistake a pet cat for a feral cat, leading to the killing of innocent pets.
Experts warn against unskilled and inexperienced cat control methods
Critics argued that feral cat control should be left to skilled and experienced individuals who use the right equipment and methods, and that humane education would be a better way to protect New Zealand’s biological heritage.
In the end, the competition was called off due to the intense backlash, with organizers issuing an apology and stating that the decision was made “to avoid further backlash at this time.”
The incident has sparked an important conversation about the ethics of promoting hunting and killing competitions, particularly involving children.
It remains to be seen whether similar competitions will be organized in the future or whether animal rights groups will continue to advocate for the protection of all animals, including feral cats.
To raise awareness on issues such as this one, please share on your social media.
And why not read more like this: From severe injury to her fur-ever home and Can this malnourished stray survive its long, traumatic life on the streets
