Animal rights campaigners in New Zealand are advocating against a hunting competition that opened a new category for children.
Feral cats can threaten biodiversity in New Zealand because they eat endangered native birds and eggs, lizards, bats, and insects, The Guardian reported Tuesday. Children under 14 can now participate in the North Canterbury Hunting Competition and hunt for feral cats with the possibility of a $250 prize, according to the outlet. (RELATED: Australia Employs Terminator Machines To Kill Stray Cats)
New Zealand Hunting Competition Challenges Children To Kill Feral Catshttps://t.co/5oaFoF6rdN
— IFLScience (@IFLScience) April 18, 2023
The Canterbury Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said in a statement it was “extremely concerned” and that “someone’s pet may be killed during the event.”
“There is a good chance someone’s pet may be killed during this event,” the organization said. “In addition, children often use air rifles in these sorts of events which increase the likelihood of pain and distress, and can cause a prolonged death.”
Managing feral cats:
– Trap ✅️
– Neuter ✅️
– Release ⁉️❌️❓️❌️‼️NZ wildlife has enough on its plate predator-wise. How does *releasing* cats (neutered or otherwise) into the wild solve anything? https://t.co/uACmlzVl3j
— George Weeks (@GeorgeWeeks2014) April 18, 2023
Gareth Morgan, founder of the Opportunities Party, called feral cats “natural-born killers,” “sadists of the animal kingdom,” and called for them to be eliminated, The Guardian reported.
More than 250 children participated in the competition in 2022, with kids killing 427 animals, including possums and rabbits, The Guardian reported. Approximately 650 adults participated, according to the outlet.