Children had to hunt and kill cats to win the grand prize: A competition in New Zealand was finally canceled after it sparked an outcry, a decision welcomed by a New Zealand animal rights group on Wednesday.
Organizers of an annual wild boar and deer hunting competition had caused consternation by announcing the creation of a separate category for children under 14.
To win the first prize – a sum of 250 New Zealand dollars (141 euros) – the children had to hunt feral cats, also known as wild cats, domestic cats that had been returned to the wild.
The category, which included a warning to children not to kill domestic cats, was removed, organizers said on Tuesday.
The New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said it was “both pleased and relieved that the ‘children’ category for shooting stray cats has been removed.”
“Like adults, children cannot distinguish between a feral cat, a stray cat or an anxious house cat,” said a spokesman for the animal protection association.
The rest of the competition, organized to raise funds for a school in the country, was also kept.
Organizers reported that “despicable and inappropriate emails” were sent “to the school and others”.
“The safety of our sponsors and the school is our top priority, it has been decided to withdraw this category this year to avoid further negative reactions,” the organizers wrote on Facebook.
Feral cats are a scourge in New Zealand, where they are responsible for dwindling populations of birds, bats, lizards, mice and other insects, according to New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, which is responsible for preserving historical and native heritage.