Australia imposes a curfew on cats to protect the country’s biodiversity. The country has been suffering from a large population of feral cats for years. It appears to be the most invasive species in the country.
Invasive species are animals that do not occur naturally in a country and their presence causes problems. The New York Times reported that a UN report shows that cats in Australia are causing biodiversity loss. Feral cats kill an estimated two billion animals every year in Australia, according to Australian Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.
Chicks in the country
In the Netherlands, feral cats and cats cause losses among meadowlark chicks in the spring. That is why the Frisian Association of Birdwatchers (BFvW) launched the “Chicks in the countryside, cats in the basket” campaign a few years ago. It is an annual invitation to cat owners to keep their pets indoors at night during the breeding season (March 15 to July 15).
House and farm cats roam for miles across meadows at night. Rats are usually on the hunters’ menu, but they instinctively kill defenseless chicks. The Frisian campaign, which receives support from the province of Fryslan, among others, enjoys widespread support at the national level. Including bird protection in the Netherlands. Outgoing Minister Van der Waals is also concerned about cat predation on meadowbird populations.
