Whoever kills the most stray cats by the end of June was offered around 85 euros.
THE stray cats are considered scourges New Zealand because their presence has negative effects on other animal species such as birds, bats and certain insects. For this reason, the government authorizes hunting of the animal as long as the right methods are used.
For this reason, a tournament was organized in the region Canterbury, in the north-east of the South Island. Problem: The competition was open Children under 14 years old. About 85 euros were offered to whoever would kill most stray cats by the end of June. The purpose of this competition was also to raise funds for a local school.
“There’s a good chance someone’s animal will be killed”
But after creating that anger of many islandersbut also animal welfare associations, it finally had to be cancelled. The New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had expressed concern, saying that “Children, like adults, will not be able to tell the difference between a feral cat, a stray cat, or a domestic cat.”.
A competition planned for children in New Zealand to hunt and kill feral cats as part of an initiative to protect native species has been focused after backlash from the public and animal rights groups https://t.co/r69afcenLB
— CNN (@CNN) April 20, 2023
“There is a good chance someone’s pet will be killed during this event. In addition, children often use air guns, which can increase the animals’ stress but also prolong their deaths.