New Zealand Conservation Minister Tama Potaka announced that feral cats will be added to the country's Predator Free 2050 strategy, marking the first expansion of the target species list since its inception in 2016 under former Prime Minister John Key.
Potaka described feral cats as apex predators responsible for killing native birds, bats, lizards, frogs and insects, with estimates suggesting between 2.4 million or more feral cats currently exist across the country.
The eradication methods under consideration include poisoned sausage baits and spray-based poisons that would be deployed from devices on trees as cats walk past, while scientist Sir Peter Gluckman has also discussed potential future genetic solutions with the minister.
More than 90% of nearly 3,400 public submissions received during recent consultations supported improved feral cat management, with documented cases including over 100 short-tailed bats killed by feral cats in a single week near Ohakune and their contribution to the near-extinction of the southern dotterel on Stewart Island.
Jessi Morgan, chief executive of Predator Free New Zealand Trust, welcomed the decision after years of advocacy, emphasizing that feral cats are completely different from companion pets, which are not targeted by the eradication program but may face future regulations like mandatory microchipping and registration.
