New Zealand cat killing competition: Almost 400 animals dead

A controversial competition that allowed New Zealand children to hunt feral cats for cash prizes has produced its biggest catch yet: almost 400 cats were killed in this year’s event, which was met with fierce protests.

The annual hunt, which is open to both children and adults, focuses primarily on New Zealand’s large wildcat population, although participants can also hunt deer, pigs, ducks, possums and rabbits.

According to the Times UK, over 1,500 people, including 440 children, took part in this year’s bloody affair.

Although the event faces heavy criticism each year, organizer Matt Bailey defended the tradition, calling the country’s feral cat population “possessed by the devil.”

“Here in the country, we do things a little differently,” Bailey said Tuesday after the event, adding that the publicity generated by the protesters “was the best thing that could have happened to the competition.”

He continued: “They are possessed by the devil or like the devil on methamphetamine. These are wild beasts.”

“They will try to attack you. If you put your hand near the cage, they will try to grab you. You can see the evil in their eyes,” he added.

One contestant killed 65 cats and won the $500 prize for the most cats killed.

A prize of $1,000 was also awarded for the largest dead cat.

Clashes broke out between protesters and participants. Protesters said they had to leave the hall when children started throwing stones at them.

Feral and domestic cats pose a serious threat to New Zealand’s biodiversity and wildlife, preying on native birds, lizards, bats and insects.

This year’s competition raised about $60,000 for a local school and a community swimming pool, and venison from deer hunts was processed and frozen to be donated to food banks, The Guardian reported.

The event originally began as a local wild boar hunting competition, but over time cats were also included as farmers noticed their growing numbers.

Safety precautions were taken to ensure that the cats involved were not pets. The cats were caught in box traps and later killed with a .22 caliber rifle.

Bailey says new laws are needed to stop people abandoning their unwanted cats in the countryside.

“They just show up on the side of the road and the people of Christchurch just throw these animals away because they think they are doing the right thing because they don’t have the money to put them down,” he said.

Meanwhile, protesters and opposition groups such as the Animal Justice Party are demanding that alternative methods be considered to control the growing cat population, including trapping and sterilization programs.

“If we truly care about bird protection and wildlife conservation, people must take responsibility for their cats and neuter them to prevent unplanned breeding and the subsequent disposal of unwanted litters,” the statement said.