New Zealand has announced plans to eradicate feral cats by 2050, as part of efforts to protect the country’s biodiversity.

Speaking to Radio New Zealand on Thursday, conservation minister Tama Potaka said that feral cats are “stone cold killers” and would be added to the country’s Predator Free 2050 list, which aims to eradicate those animals that have a negative impact on species such as birds, bats, lizards and insects.

Cats had previously been excluded from the list, which includes species such as stoats, ferrets, weasels, rats and possums, but Potaka used the interview to announce a U-turn.

  • Dethronatus Sapiens sp.@calckey.world
    43·
    9 hours ago

    @MicroWave@lemmy.world @world@lemmy.world

    Speaking to Radio New Zealand on Thursday, conservation minister Tama Potaka said that feral cats are “stone cold killers” and would be added to the country’s Predator Free 2050 list, which aims to eradicate those animals that have a negative impact on species such as birds, bats, lizards and insects.

    Unfortunately the aforementioned list will never contain the most “stone cold killer”, most dangerous predator species of 'em all, because it’s a list kept by that very species themselves.

    • I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      6 hours ago

      Unfortunately the aforementioned list will never contain the most “stone cold killer”, most dangerous predator species of 'em all, because it’s a list kept by that very species themselves.

      nods knowingly

      Wallabies…