June 5, 2016
HOW DOES THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF FERAL CATS?
The recognition of impacts of feral cats to Australian environment has led the Australian Government to decision that cats measuring control is a strong focus (Doran, 2016). Taking control of such a big population of feral cats is very difficult, particularly on the mainland, although some programs have been successfully taken on islands (Doran, 2016). There are now many community organisations helping the Government to control of feral cats including The Sporting Shooters Association of Victoria, the Australian Veterinary Association, or the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) (Broadman, 2016).
A combination of trapping, shooting, baiting and sterilisation has been used to remove cats from islands (Moodie, 1995). On the mainland, predator-free islands and fenced reserves are currently the most effective short-term protection for threatened mammals (Liesl Cromptn, 2013). However, the issue here is fences are very expensive to build, and they require constant monitoring, maintenance and funding (Liesl Cromptn, 2013). A research project in remote Western Australia has shown the strong data to help control the cats (ABC, 2012). Controlling cats by baiting, shooting and trapping or protecting wildlife with guardian dogs can be effective in some locations and at some periods of time, but none has yet demonstrated the capacity for long term using purpose, expand the landscape-scale in vulnerable mammal populations (McGregor et al, 2016).
The use of poison baits can reduce cat density, but even low levels of cat predation (semi-feral cats) can kill threatened mammal populations, such as when cats killed at least seven bilbies outside the Arid Recovery reserve in South Australia (ABC, 2012). Ecologist John Read, who has come up with an ingenious solution to kill off these invasive hunters without causing collateral damage (Eifling, 2016). He has rigged laser-sighted robots to spray poison onto only cats, with the expectation that they will lick their fur and die (Eifling, 2016). After seven years of development, the design of the mechanised device is very interesting and promising although it is designed to kill animal (Eifling, 2016). Furthermore, the decision of spray tool is inspired for future analysing and design. However, it contains a lot of little errors which can affect other native animals as the machine is not able to determine whether it is a cat or other species (Eifling, 2016).
A new effectively and brand new solution is now introduced. It’s called Eradicat - a combination of kangaroo, mince, chicken fat, and a deadly poison called 1080 (which has proven successful in other attempts to remove invasive species such as rats and mice) (Platt, 2015). The Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife spent the past ten years only onto developing Eradicat, it managed to kill between 70 percent and 80 percent of the cats under trial conditions (Platt, 2015). The 1080 poison (sodium fluoroacetate) is being praised as an incredibly good solution for the state of Western Australia because it is made from plants that grow in the region, which is not really frequent (Barratt, 1997). However, even once the poison is took place, other cat-control techniques such as shooting, trapping, and fencing will still need to continue (Platt, 2015).
A combination of trapping, shooting, baiting and sterilisation has been used to remove cats from islands (Moodie, 1995). On the mainland, predator-free islands and fenced reserves are currently the most effective short-term protection for threatened mammals (Liesl Cromptn, 2013). However, the issue here is fences are very expensive to build, and they require constant monitoring, maintenance and funding (Liesl Cromptn, 2013). A research project in remote Western Australia has shown the strong data to help control the cats (ABC, 2012). Controlling cats by baiting, shooting and trapping or protecting wildlife with guardian dogs can be effective in some locations and at some periods of time, but none has yet demonstrated the capacity for long term using purpose, expand the landscape-scale in vulnerable mammal populations (McGregor et al, 2016).
The use of poison baits can reduce cat density, but even low levels of cat predation (semi-feral cats) can kill threatened mammal populations, such as when cats killed at least seven bilbies outside the Arid Recovery reserve in South Australia (ABC, 2012). Ecologist John Read, who has come up with an ingenious solution to kill off these invasive hunters without causing collateral damage (Eifling, 2016). He has rigged laser-sighted robots to spray poison onto only cats, with the expectation that they will lick their fur and die (Eifling, 2016). After seven years of development, the design of the mechanised device is very interesting and promising although it is designed to kill animal (Eifling, 2016). Furthermore, the decision of spray tool is inspired for future analysing and design. However, it contains a lot of little errors which can affect other native animals as the machine is not able to determine whether it is a cat or other species (Eifling, 2016).
A new effectively and brand new solution is now introduced. It’s called Eradicat - a combination of kangaroo, mince, chicken fat, and a deadly poison called 1080 (which has proven successful in other attempts to remove invasive species such as rats and mice) (Platt, 2015). The Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife spent the past ten years only onto developing Eradicat, it managed to kill between 70 percent and 80 percent of the cats under trial conditions (Platt, 2015). The 1080 poison (sodium fluoroacetate) is being praised as an incredibly good solution for the state of Western Australia because it is made from plants that grow in the region, which is not really frequent (Barratt, 1997). However, even once the poison is took place, other cat-control techniques such as shooting, trapping, and fencing will still need to continue (Platt, 2015).