WELLINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand will add feral cats to its Predator Free 2050 target list in a bid to protect native wildlife, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka said on Friday.
Including feral cats in the Predator Free 2050 goal means stronger protection for local wildlife, better tools for communities, and less impact on farmers, families and the economy, Potaka said in a government statement.
"Feral cats are now found across Aotearoa New Zealand, from farms to forests, and they put huge pressure on native birds, bats, lizards and insects," he said, adding they also spread toxoplasmosis, which harms dolphins, affects people, and causes livestock losses.
The policy follows a public consultation on the Predator Free strategy that received nearly 3,400 submissions, more than 90 percent of which supported improved feral cat management, the statement said.
Adding feral cats to the Predator Free 2050 target list will enable national coordination of feral cat control, open Predator Free funding to projects targeting feral cats, boost research into effective and humane tools and technology, and strengthen efforts to protect threatened species across the country, it said.
Potaka cited examples of the damage caused by feral cats, including the loss of more than 100 short-tailed bats in a single week near Ohakune, a small town in the North Island, and the near-extinction of the southern dotterel on Stewart Island.
The minister stressed domestic pets are not included in the target, saying responsible ownership, desexing and microchipping remain essential. Further details will be set out in the revised Predator Free 2050 strategy due in March 2026. ■
