Organizers of the feral cat killing contest in rural North Canterbury announced they would expand the event next year after a successful turnout. The competition, held last weekend, attracted 1,500 hunters, including 460 children accompanied by adults. Hunters killed a total of 370 feral cats, along with wild boars, possums, rats, and deer.
A cash prize of $608 was awarded to the hunter who killed the largest feral cat weighing 6.7 kg. Additionally, a cash prize of $304 was given to the contestant who killed the most feral cats, with 65 being the record-breaking number. Organizer Matt Bailey stated that they will continue to increase prize money and make the event bigger and better in order to eradicate feral cats that prey on native wildlife and spread diseases to livestock.
Feral cat hunting is limited to areas at least 10km from human settlements as conservation groups work towards including feral cats in New Zealand’s plan to eradicate pests by 2050 alongside stoats, rats, possums and ferrets. However, the issue is sensitive in New Zealand where nearly half of households have cats as pets.