Help! New Zealand's Feral Cat Hunting and Killing Competition Is Back
- Rachel
- Aug 23, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 24
Animal welfare organisations and animal rights activists are calling on people like you to join forces in a bid to put an end to the barbaric hunting and killing of feral cats in New Zealand. Read on to learn more and find out what you can do to help.
*WARNING: CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGARY
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What Is the North Canterbury Hunting Competition?
The competition is an annual event held in New Zealand's South Island, whereby hunters (including children) are challenged to target wild pigs, deer, hares - and yes, feral cats. While the competition has sparked controversy, it raises funds for the Rotherham community, including support for teachers and pool upkeep.
In 2023, a new category was announced for children aged 14 and under to hunt feral cats. The youngsters were encouraged to kill as many cats as possible, with a cash prize equivalent of £124 for whoever shot the most.
Participants of the event were told not to kill pets, with arguments from the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals stating that they wouldn't know the difference between feral, stray or domestic cats. While the competition isn't technically breaking any laws, it was cancelled after backlash and protests from animal rights activists and animal welfare groups.
While many condemned the event, others defended it as protecting the country's vulnerable species. I do wonder how they'd defend using children to carry out the bloodthirsty task, growing up in a world that's already plagued with violence. Surely, we should be educating young people on the importance of empathy and respect to all creatures.
Organisers of the competition claimed to have received vile and inappropriate emails, and also made the statement: "Our sponsors and school safety are our main priority, so the decision has been made to withdraw this category for this year to avoid further backlash at this time."
Well, folks - new year, new competition!
Why Are Feral Cats Targeted?
Cats, both feral and domestic, are considered to be pests and a risk to New Zealand's biosecurity.
From BBC News:
"One biosecurity expert, Dr Helen Blackie, told Radio New Zealand that feral cats were responsible for the extinction of six bird species, as well as the decline in populations of bats, frogs and lizards. They are also known to carry the parasitic infection toxoplasmosis, a disease that has had a significant impact on New Zealand's sheep industry.”
Locals have spoken of the damage that feral cats cause to the area, effects on farming; threats to native species and the spread of disease. It's estimated that there are over 2 million feral cats in New Zealand, and as they're not classified as pests in Canterbury, the situation remains unregulated. It seems that many feral cats are shot on site, and officials use a combination of poison, traps and guns to control the population.
Well, New Zealand, clearly these "methods" are proving to be ineffective!
In their defence, organisers point out that anyone who participates in their hunts are required to abide by firearms and animal welfare laws. Apparently there are safeguards in place to ensure domestic cats aren't targeted, such as restricting hunting to outside of residential areas. Cats are said to be caught in traps to ensure they can be identified as feral and then killed with a rifle, which raises even more questions as far as children are concerned.
According to animal rights activists, the argument lies in the cruel mistreatment of animals and the desensitisation of children.
2024 Cat Hunting Competition
Unfortunately, the North Canterbury Hunting Competition is back - and it's worse than ever before. Coming to a close at the end of June, reports from the animal welfare organisation, Network for Animals, suggest that roughly 340 animals were killed - which is 100 more than last year.
Just over 1,500 people took part, and around 440 were children under 14 years of age. The event raised $60,000 for the local school and community pool, while venison from the deer hunt was donated to food banks.
From the Network for Animals website:
"Animal Save Movement protesters attended the event, where they said they were quickly approached by young people dressed in animal costumes with the words 'Animal Slay Movement' printed on them. The group criticised the event's attempt to justify violence towards animals by claiming it was conservation."
Meanwhile, photos of the event show children holding up dead cats by their tails like trophies.
Conservation or Hunger Games? Let us know in the comments.
Killing animals in a cruel hunting sport that offers cash prizes to children has been compared to a "normal way of living" in rural New Zealand, where wild animals are commonly hunted, skinned and eaten. Even if we put our diplomatic hats on and acknowledge the issues surrounding feral cats and the impact they have on endangered species, these methods of control are a heated topic of debate in a country where almost half of households own a cat.
There has to be a link between this and the overpopulation of feral cats, which begs the question: should we be pointing some of the blame at the owners?
How You Can Help
The good news is that hunters and animal rights groups can agree on one thing: a need for more responsible cat ownership, such as neutering to prevent overbreeding and the dumping of unwanted litters. Which, let's be honest, seems to be a worldwide problem - even here in the UK.
Suggestions from both sides include Trap-to-Neuter programmes and a change in law to ensure that domestic cats are microchipped and desexed. Preventing the spread of feral cats before it becomes an issue is a safer and more humane method of protecting New Zealand's wildlife - and the cats themselves.
Network for animals, whom I've followed and donated to over the last few years, is already on the case. The organisation has sent official statements to the New Zealand authorities demanding to put a stop to North Canterbury's barbaric cat-killing competition. A petition has been signed by over 21,500 supporters - people like you and me!
Statements were issued to both the mayor and government, pointing out that culling has been shown to increase feral numbers, and the most effective population control method is Trap-Neuter-Vaccine-Release (TNR).
Network for Animals is calling on all animal lovers to help pile on the pressure and really make an impact. Whether that's through spreading information, sharing the organisation's social media posts, donating or emailing the New Zealand authorities directly. Details for those mentioned are readily available online.
So, before anyone starts typing up the hate mail, bear in mind that education is a more appropriate long-term solution. Criticism may have won the battle, but the war is far from over!
To keep up to date with progress, visit the Network for Animals website where you can follow stories, news, sign up for newsletters and more.
*Network for Animals is a non-governmental, international animal welfare organisation crusading for animals around the world.
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