Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@thesavemovement/Newshub
Topics: Animal Cruelty, New Zealand, Environment, Animals
Emily Brown
Topics: Animal Cruelty, New Zealand, Environment, Animals
Hundreds of cats have been killed in a controversial hunting competition which offers money for the the biggest number of deaths.
Based on New Zealand's South Island, the North Canterbury Hunting Competition challenges hunters to target feral cats which prey on local wildlife.
The competition has prompted outrage from animal activists, but organizer Mat Bailey has insisted that the feral cats are nothing like your typical pet.
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Speaking to NewsHub, Bailey went as far as to describe the animals as 'the devil on meth', adding: "You've got to be careful with them because if you get your hands anywhere near the cage they'll attack you, they're like a caged lion."
Feral cats can grow up to a metre long and are responsible for killing an estimated 100 million birds each year in the area, as well as targeting lizards and spreading diseases that can kill sheep.
It's for these reasons the cats were targeted in the competition, which last year resulted in the capture of nearly 250 feral cats.
"The Canterbury skink, bellbirds, we've got the black-fronted terns on the Waiau that basically get annihilated every year by the cats," Bailey said.
"We've raised this whole issue to the surface throughout the country... hopefully the rest of the country is waking up to actually realize these animals have to go."
Wayne Beggs, of the Department of Conservation, has acknowledged that New Zealand's biodiversity didn't have cats during its development, so they have a major impact.
Wellington has now introduced bylaws to manage cats, but some people believe they aren't enough.
To encourage more success in the competition, this year it introduced a new prize, the largest feral cat, on top of the most kills.
A cash prize of NZ$500 ($300) was awarded to the hunter who killed the most cats, while the new category brought a prize of $NZ1000 ($600).
After the event took place this weekend, 7News reported that about 370 feral felines were killed, with one hunter alone responsible for catching 65 of the animals.
The heaviest cat caught during the competition weighed 6.7 kilograms.
The competition has sparked a wealth of backlash from activists, with Christchurch Animal Save among those criticizing the 'blood sport'.
Another protestor described the competition as 'one most shocking events [they] have attended as an animal rights activist'.
In spite of the backlash, Bailey indicated the competition has no plans to stop.
“If (protesters and animal rights advocates) are upset, it doesn’t worry me. Something needs to change here. We’re doing our part," he said.