Nine Lives, the feral cat that terrorised New Zealand’s rare ducks, is caught after three years
Summary
A feral cat named Nine Lives was caught and killed after three years of killing rare native animals on New Zealand’s Purerua peninsula. The cat killed many rare brown teal ducks and other native wildlife, causing serious harm to local conservation efforts.Key Facts
- Nine Lives was a large grey tabby feral cat living on the Purerua peninsula in New Zealand.
- It killed about 1% of the rare brown teal ducks introduced to the area, plus kiwi chicks, native geckos, and other animals.
- The cat was first seen in 2023 and avoided traps for three years, earning its name.
- Conservationists used cameras, traps, and bait like salmon and rabbit to finally catch it in July 2024.
- After capture, the cat was humanely shot to protect wildlife.
- Its body will be taxidermied to help educate people about the dangers of feral cats.
- New Zealand has many feral cats, which threaten native species and are part of a government Predator-Free 2050 plan.
- The capture of Nine Lives is seen as a win for conservation on the peninsula.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
