Australia’s Environment Ministers have agreed to a NSW request to establish a working group to examine innovative controls to protect native species from feral cats.
Minister for Energy and Environment, Matt Kean welcomed the opportunity for NSW to chair the group, which will look at long-term possible control methods.
“Feral cats are responsible for killing a staggering one billion native animals every year across Australia, including 459 million native mammals,” Mr Kean said.
“NSW is already researching the most up-to-date control methods to hit feral cats head on, including a $30 million partnership with the University of New England to refine existing feral cat control techniques, test new control options and develop integrated strategies,” he said.
“This complements similar work being undertaken by other jurisdictions as part of national efforts to control feral cats and protect Australia’s threatened species.”
Mr Kean said current feral cat controls weren’t solving the problem, which is why new ideas such as synthetic biology and genetic controls needed to be explored.
“By taking a long-term view, and investing in game changing new technologies, we stand the best chance of getting on top of the feral cat problem in Australia,” he said.
He said the working group would consider research already underway by organisations such as the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in relation to genetic control, as well as barriers to development and implementation.
“On ground application of such technologies could be more than 20 years away, but we need to start this work now to try and halt the terrible impact of feral cats on our wildlife.”
Mr Kean said the working group would review potential new strategies and report back to the Meeting of Environment Ministers.
