Wild cats are becoming an increasing problem in Australia, and some native species are now threatened with extinction. There are said to be only 500 of the Kangaroo Island narrow-footed pouch mouse left on Kangaroo Island.
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Wild cats are threatening the last populations of the critically endangered kangaroo island pacifier in Australia. The small marsupials are only found on Kangaroo Island off the south coast. It is estimated that there are only around 500 copies left. The devastating bushfires of 2019-2020 had already severely burned 98 percent of the animals’ habitat. A University of Adelaide study recently found that stray cats now pose another significant risk to the survival of the species.
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Louis Lignereux and his team examined the stomach contents and digestive tract of 86 feral cats captured in specially designated sanctuaries on the island between February and August 2020. All cats were euthanized under the National Wildcat Control Program and in accordance with South Australia’s animal welfare laws.
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Researchers identified the remains of eight kangaroo island narrow-footed pouch mice (Sminthopsis aitkeni) in the digestive systems of seven different cats — more than eight percent of all animals studied. This is the first time that it has been confirmed that cats are efficient hunters of the endemic marsupials, according to the journal Scientific Reports.
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Stray cats must be kept under control
‘Because small numbers of specimens are confined to a small geographic area, kangaroo island narrow-footed pouch mice are exceptionally vulnerable to stochastic events,’ the study states. Hunting by wild cats (Felis catus), which were introduced to Australia during European settlement, is increasing pressure on the animals – and could possibly lead to their extinction. It is therefore urgently necessary to keep the populations of stray cats under control in areas where endangered species live.
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