The next battle in Australia’s feral cat war
The federal government has today announced a $60 million investment in more than 50 projects around the country to fight feral cats.
The government will soon release an updated national framework for the management of feral cats after it declared a “war” on the animals in September 2023.
Until the new threat abatement plan is released, the 2015 plan remains in place, which includes controls such as shooting, traps and baiting.
Ahead of the release, federal Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek has announced 55 projects to address the invasive species’ impacts under a $60 million investment, including one for Kangaroo Island.
The government announced plans such as the use of Artificial Intelligence traps which emit high-pitched sounds, creating a “virtual fence”, and a “humane animal net” that traps the animals and sends an alert.
Projects under the investment include some in South Australia, with the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board currently working to remove feral cats from the 38,000-hectare Dudley Peninsula.
The board is utilising a combined approach, including feral cat detection dogs and a community program.
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Felixer traps are also being employed on the island. The solar-panelled traps use lasers, cameras and AI to distinguish target animals from other wildlife, spraying feral cats with a toxic gel.
The federal government’s plan to manage feral cats includes Felixer traps. Photo: suppliedIn another South Australian project, Adelaide’s Thylation conservation group is testing a $2.1 million project using six high-tech conservation tools.
Trials include further technologies for Felixer traps that could detect feral cats in extreme conditions, and using AI-operated gates that would allow native animals to pass while stopping feral cats.
Plibersek said the government was “serious about protecting our precious native species”.
“That’s why we’re tackling one of their biggest killers,” she said.
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According to the Invasive Species Council, cats have done more environmental damage in Australia than anywhere else in the world.
The council said the animals kill 1.1 billion mammals in Australia every year and have driven 27 native animals to extinction since colonisation, with 124 more species at risk.
“Feral cats are dangerous and ruthless predators, pushing our threatened native species like the greater bilby, numbat, and Gilbert’s potoroo, to the brink of extinction,” Plibersek said.
“Since declaring war on feral cats, we are mobilising artificial intelligence, cat trap technology and strong community action to combat this invasive pest and safeguard Australia’s biodiversity.”
The Invasive Species Council said feral cats had lead to the extinction of 27 native animals. Photo: suppliedOther projects include a $1.6 million project by Bush Heritage Australia testing new technologies on the Tiwi Islands, the Yourke Reserve in Queensland and the Naree Station Reserve in New South Wales.
Western Australia’s Christmas Island National Park has seen over 1100 cats removed since 2022, with the Felixer trap in place there as well as researchers exploring the use of thermal cameras on drones and environmental DNA technologies for tracking.
Plibersek said the $60 million investment would assist “groundbreaking projects that safely, quickly and humanely catch and eradicate feral cats”.
“The projects also help land managers and farmers to better protect land, livestock and native wildlife from feral cats.”
