WELLINGTON: A controversial cat-hunting competition for children in New Zealand has been cancelled following widespread criticism. Organizers of the annual hunt faced backlash after announcing a category for children to hunt feral cats, which are considered a pest in the country.
While the organizers instructed the youngsters not to kill pets, they were otherwise encouraged to kill more feral cats for a prize of NZ$250.
The event drew immediate criticism from animal welfare groups and sparked fears that house cats could be caught in the crossfire.
The New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals expressed relief that the “children’s new category, which involved shooting feral cats”, would not go ahead.
A representative stated that children, along with adults, would be unable to differentiate between a feral, stray or frightened domesticated cat.
Children’s Cat-Hunting Competition in New Zealand
The competition was announced as part of a fundraiser hunt for a school in South Island’s Canterbury. The event typically sees hundreds, including children, compete to kill wild pigs, deer and hares. However, the addition of a children’s category to hunt feral cats proved to be too controversial.
Organizers of the Competition announced the cancellation of the cat event, citing “vile and inappropriate emails” as a reason for their decision.
The group wrote on Facebook, “We are extremely disappointed and apologize to all those who were excited to be involved in something about protecting our native birds and other vulnerable species.”
While many defended the hunt as a “controlled cull,” the country’s largest conservation group, the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, estimate that these cats could be responsible for the deaths of around 1.1 million native birds every year, and tens of millions of non-native birds.
Measures to control the feral cat population in New Zealand remain a subject of heated debate, with concerns about their impact on the country’s biodiversity.
