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Cats across the Sunshine Coast are hitting the streets in high-tech cat harnesses, all in the name of environmental science. Researcher Nicole Galea from Maleny is kitting out household moggies with harnesses and accelerometers to track how they behave when they are outdoors in a bid to boost wildlife protection efforts. Volunteer cat owners across the Sunshine Coast are being asked to use the devices for eight consecutive nights with all data recorded based on their cat’s unique movements. Nicole says domestic cats have long been responsible for preying on native wildlife and yet many of the Sunshine Coast’s estimated 38,600 domestic cats are left outside at night. Nicole, who is studying a Bachelor of Ecology (honours) at the Sunshine Coast University, said the devices could monitor whether a cat was walking, running, hunting or pouncing. “We are studying biomechanics, which is the way the cat is moving, so that we can understand what they are getting up to at night long after we go to bed,” she said. “Camera trapping only shows a snippet of what
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the cats are up to and human observation can be very difficult, whereas the accelerometer is showing us activities and behaviours that can give us a better idea of how cats are truly impacting the bushland. “We know where the cats go, but we don’t know what they are doing and the impact they are having on bushland,” Nicole said. “Biometric data will give us important information to help us manage them more effectively.” The research will also assess the effectiveness of a cat “bib” designed to restrict a cat’s natural hunting movements and give prey a better chance of escaping. Sunshine Coast Council laws do not allow cats to roam at night, but Nicole’s project has received special dispensation for its potential to provide valuable data in the fight against domestic animal predation of wildlife. Nicole is seeking 30 registered, microchipped and desexed cats to be involved in the study before it finishes at the end of the month. More information is available from n_g027@student.usc.edu.au. Nicole eventually wants to work in biosecurity and says an approach like this could eventually be tailored to understand and manage other invasive species.
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Cats suit up for enviro research
Glasshouse Country & Maleny News
