Jack Gough is the advocacy director at the Invasive Species Council. He said the following about feral cats and the extinction of native Australian species:
“Feral cats have sent at least 25 of our native species extinct since they were introduced by Europeans over 200 years ago. Large numbers of our native species are at direct risk of going extinct because of the impacts of feral cats and because they are such effective hunters and killers.” – The Guardian newspaper online.
He is plain lying. He is saying that feral cats have been the sole reason for the extinction of 25 native species. He does not use the phrase ‘sole reason’ or ‘sole cause’ but it is obviously implied in his provocative statement. Gough needs to be taught a lesson about bias and presenting the scientific facts rather than spouting untruths to suit his agenda which is to eradicate feral cats inhumanely.
Here is the truth about the extinction of these species provided in a question-and-answer session with AI.
Have feral cats been the sole reason for the extinction of 25 Australian native species?
No, feral cats have not been the sole reason for the extinction of 25 Australian native species. While feral cats have played a significant role in the extinction of many species, including at least 25 native mammal species, they are typically one of several factors contributing to these extinctions.
In most cases, the extinction of native species in Australia results from a combination of factors, including:
- Habitat loss and fragmentation (due to human activities like agriculture and urbanization)
- Invasive species (such as foxes and rabbits, which compete for food or directly prey on native species)
- Climate change and altered fire regimes, which have affected ecosystems and the availability of resources.
Feral cats are a major factor in these extinctions, especially for small mammals, reptiles, and birds, but rarely the sole cause. Their impact is often amplified when combined with other threats.
What are these 25 species. Straight list please.
Here is a list of 25 Australian native species that have been driven to extinction, with feral cats being a significant contributing factor:
- Desert Bandicoot
- Lesser Bilby
- Pig-footed Bandicoot
- Western Barred Bandicoot (mainland population)
- Nullarbor Dwarf Bettong
- Broad-faced Potoroo
- Crescent Nailtail Wallaby
- Toolache Wallaby
- White-footed Rabbit-rat
- Darling Downs Hopping-mouse
- Long-tailed Hopping-mouse
- Short-tailed Hopping-mouse
- Big-eared Hopping-mouse
- Central Hare-wallaby
- Eastern Hare-wallaby
- Lake Mackay Hare-wallaby
- Lesser Stick-nest Rat
- Long-eared Mouse
- Maclear’s Rat
- Christmas Island Shrew
- Crescent Nailtail Wallaby
- Desert Bettong
- Burrowing Bettong (mainland population)
- Great Stick-nest Rat (mainland population)
- Thick-tailed Stick-nest Rat (mainland population)
These species are all mammals, reflecting the vulnerability of Australia’s native mammals to predation by feral cats. And to human activities such as house building, infrastructure building and commerce.
Of the reasons for their extinction how big a role did human behaviour play?
Human behavior played a major role in the extinction of these 25 Australian native species, often alongside feral cats. In fact, many of the factors that led to their extinction were directly or indirectly driven by human activities. Here’s how human behavior contributed:
Key Ways Human Behavior Played a Role:
- Introduction of Feral Cats and Other Invasive Species:
- Feral cats were introduced to Australia by European settlers, which significantly increased predation pressure on native species.
- Humans also introduced other invasive species like foxes, rabbits, and rats, which contributed to competition for resources, habitat degradation, and additional predation.
- Habitat Destruction and Fragmentation:
- Land clearing for agriculture, urban development, and mining destroyed large areas of natural habitat, making it difficult for native species to survive and reproduce.
- Fragmentation of ecosystems limited the ability of species to find food, shelter, and mates, making them more vulnerable to predators like feral cats.
- Alteration of Fire Regimes:
- Traditional Indigenous fire management practices were often replaced by European-style fire suppression or inappropriate burning patterns. This led to changes in vegetation and food availability, reducing the suitability of habitats for many native species.
- Overhunting and Exploitation:
- Some species were directly hunted or exploited by early settlers, contributing to their decline.
- Climate Change (Induced by Human Activity):
- Climate change, driven by human activities like burning fossil fuels, has altered ecosystems, further stressing already vulnerable species. Shifts in temperature, rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events have compounded the pressures on these species.
The Combined Effect:
Human-driven changes created environments where native species were more vulnerable to predators like feral cats. For instance, habitat destruction reduced the availability of shelter, making it easier for feral cats to hunt native animals. Similarly, the introduction of other invasive species and the alteration of ecosystems (due to agriculture or development) weakened native species’ ability to survive and escape predation.
Conclusion:
While feral cats were a significant factor in the extinction of these species, human behavior—especially the introduction of invasive species and habitat destruction—was a fundamental driver in creating the conditions that led to their extinction.
Shooting feral cats
The guardian reports that there will be a mass shooting exercise of feral cats by marksmen in NSW.
A five-person team of expert shooters will soon target feral cats in New South Wales national parks as the state steps up efforts to control the pest animals. – The Guardian newspaper.
Shooting of cats
The shooting of feral cats is highly problematic both ethically and legally. They are likely to shoot some domestic cats as well. How can you distinguish feral cats from outside domestic cats at a distance? You can’t is the answer. Some cat owners are going to lose their cats and have the right to sue the government of NSW for compensation.
In the UK the shooting of feral cats is a crime unless done under very strictly controlled conditions to protect farm stock as I understand it. It never happens in my opinion. And in the US is happens illegally but most authorities in the US consider shooting feral cats as forbidden because of the reason stated: there is a real risk of killing domestic cats.
Of course it is also inhumane and cruel. But the Australian authorities by-and-large like to ignore ethically issues concerning the mass killing of feral cats. It is convenient to do so. And it is also convenient to ignore the contribution of human activity to the extinction of the listed species.
In fact, in truth, all causes of native species extinction in Australia originate in human behaviour/activity. All of it. No exceptions. Inconvenient.
