Australia Plans to Kill<br />Two Million Feral Cats by 2020 In 2015, the Australian government proposed<br />the threatened species strategy in order to<br />preserve the country’s natural environment. In their five-year plan, the eradication of<br />two million feral cats through poisoning,<br />trapping and hunting was deemed necessary. An estimated 211,560 cats were<br />killed after the first 12 months<br />of the strategy’s implementation. Feral cats have caused irreparable<br />damage to Australia’s ecosystem,<br />as they are responsible for around<br />20 billion animal deaths each year. They have reportedly<br />played a key role in the<br />extinction of at least 27<br />species unique to Australia. Australia’s plan was met with massive global<br />backlash, but former commissioner Gregory<br />Andrews reaffirmed the importance of taking action. Gregory Andrews,<br />via statement There are currently estimated to be<br />between 2.1 and 6.3 million feral cats,<br />spread across 99.8% of Australia’s land area.
