Funding needed to tackle feral cats

By QMG

Conservation organisation Southern Lakes Sanctuary is calling for the inclusion of feral cats in the NZ Government’s Predator Free 2050 strategy

More than 2.5 million feral cats now reside in Aotearoa, and this record number continues to rise every week.

Southern Lakes Sanctuary project director Paul Kavanagh says urgent funding is required to humanely control the pests, which are a significant threat to the country’s native birdlife and are responsible for the extinction of native birds including the Stephen Island wren, and endangering iconic Kiwi birds such as the kea.

The non-profit charitable organisation is facing a funding cliff of June 2024. “The reproductive potential of a single female cat is estimated at 300 kittens in her reproductive lifetime,” he says. “This means the feral cat population is increasing significantly every week, and we need to ramp up our efforts to control these populations to save our native taonga species.”

The NZ Government has confirmed a review of the Predator Free 2050 strategy will take place in 2024 under public consultation. The inclusion of feral cats would generate more funding to enable Southern Lakes Sanctuary to increase resources and continue their crucial conservation work.

Southern Lakes Sanctuary humanely captures and kills feral cats in the Southern Lakes region. The feral cat population is self-sustaining – they do not rely on humans to survive and are generally located in remote areas.

Male feral cats captured in the South Island high country usually weigh about 3.75kg but can weigh up to a whopping 10kg.

“It’s important to distinguish the difference between types of cats,” Kavanagh says. “We are absolutely not talking about domestic, companion cats here, or stray cats, which depend on ad-hoc human interaction. We are trying to decrease the widespread population of wild, feral cats which are destroying our endangered birds and reptiles.”

The humane trapping and killing of feral cats is a skilled task only undertaken by staff who have extensive training. The SPCA acknowledges, via a Position Statement on the organisation’s website, that feral cats are considered a pest and the SPCA supports the justified humane population management.

Kavanagh says that the Southern Lakes Sanctuary is careful not to endanger any domestic cats and updates in technology make this entirely possible.

“Some of our traps have a daytime excluder to reduce the likelihood of catching pets, and we are investigating getting a microchip feature which would override the trap if detected,” he says.

“We also focus on live trapping to mitigate the potential risk to companion cats, and we meet with local homeowners to see what their companion cats look like. However, we are trapping in remote areas where the risk of encountering a companion cat is extremely low.”

The Council Word

Local arts funding

Keen on delivering an arts-based project in the Queenstown Lakes District? Apply for a grant from the Creative Communities Scheme. The latest funding round is open until 25 August. For more info visit qldc.govt.nz/community/community-funding

Free winter wellness sessions

Join us for our last two Winterdaze events of the season: 3 August – winter cooking and nutrition; 10 August – mindfulness, meditation and munch. Both events 10.00am-12.00pm at Happiness House on Park Street. Free to attend – all welcome! Full details on Facebook @QLDCinfo

Winter walking challenge

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Changes to parking fees

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Growing stronger communities

QLDC has teamed up with Central Otago District Council and Inspiring Communities to host an interactive session on ways to help communities grow stronger through collaboration. Cromwell Presbyterian Church, 9.30am-3.30pm on 25 August. Tickets $25 available at humanitix.com/nz www.qldc.govt.nz

R&A’s line-up announced, tickets on sale

By Paul Taylor

Benee, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Ocean Alley and Synthony are booked to perform for a crowd of 10,000 at this year’s Rhythm & Alps Festival, in Cardrona Valley.

Organisers of the three-day bash, the South Island’s biggest New Year’s Eve party, have announced the first 16 acts on the bill, with more to be revealed over the coming weeks.

Now in its 13th year, the festival welcomes back popstar Stella Bennett, aka Benee, for a one-off Aotearoa summer show, as well as festival favourites

Fat Freddy’s Drop and Ocean Alley, who make their South Island exclusive appearances.

Synthony, which features a live orchestra with vocalists, instrumentalists, DJs and an immersive visual show, will headline New Year’s Eve, complete with fireworks show.

Event organiser Alex Turnbull says: “We are immensely proud of the carefully curated first artist announce for the 2023 event.

“We have worked hard over the years to build an inclusive event, with a little something for everybody - performers and festival goers alike - and 2023 promises to be another exciting and welcoming festival for all.”

Northern Ireland electronic music production and DJ duo Bicep make a festival return after heavy demand from their southern fans, while hip-hop crew Home Brew and Australian dance act Peking Duk will also perform.

Leading-edge rapper and gifted hip-hop act out of Compton, Chanel Tres, and Australasia’s most streamed Country artist, the award-winning and multitalented Kaylee Bell, are also on the bill, demonstrating its variety.

Belfast Music producer and DJ, Calibre, Aotearoa’s award-winning force Paige Julia, and one of the scene’s most exciting talents, Disrupta, along with UK duo Sigma are all scheduled to perform across the three days. And, rounding out the first festival announcement are NZ’s most noteworthy breakout dance DJs, Bontempo, Melbourne-based producer Nice Girl, UK house producer Ross From Friends, and roots-driven hypnotic dance trio My Baby.

“Rhythm & Alps is the best place to be in New Zealand for New Year’s,” Turnbull says. “Awesome music, immaculate stage production, amazing weather and a 100% good vibes.”

The music and camping festival opens in the afternoon on 29 December and the last act finishes in the wee hours of 1 January, 2024.

The festival welcomes 10,000 partygoers and more than 6,000 campers, with just over 40% of attendees from outside the region. Tickets are on sale now.