Now a super-sized cat: is this armageddon for Aussie wildlife?
Australia has a long, sad history of introduced "alien" species that have wreaked, and continue to wreak, havoc on our native wildlife and agricultural industries – just think of rabbits, cane toads and prickly pair. Less often mentioned in this infamous list is the domestic cat.
Yet millions of native animals are killed at the claws of our beloved moggies each year! On average, a pet cat kills 25 wild animals a year, according to the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.
Sp should Australia ban the Savannah Cat? Already almost 300 species of wildlife devoured by the 12 million feral domestic cats roaming the continent. An average feral cat weighs 4kg and requires at least 300g of flesh per day to survive. This equates to 10 small native animals daily or 3600 animals per year per cat.
As if this wholesale plunder of our native wildlife is not sufficient, the Australian government is considering allowing the import of the Savannah Cat – a cross breed between the wild African Serval and Domestic Cats.
This hybrid carnivore is twice the size of a domestic cat, with occasional giants (18 kg) as overwhelming evidence of hybrid vigour. This super-sized, semi-wild cat is able to take larger prey than our feral cats and targets a broader range of prey. Possums and koalas are likely to be on their menu, along with a whole suite of smaller species of native mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs, not to mention the backyard chooks.
The Savannah Cat is not only large. It can jump to over two metres from a standing position and “nest” in trees. “They are highly intelligent, assertive, energetic and very inquisitive”, says one Australian-based Savannah Cat breeder. The breeding company claims that it will have world class brood lines available in Australia by 2009 and is already taking reservations, at $5000 for desexed individuals or, at a higher price, intact animals for registered cat breeders.
This bold proclamation is in part due to a loophole in the current legislation which treats fifth generation Savannah Cats as Domestic Cats. As such, they do not require a live import permit and are subjected only to quarantine control. Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett said: “I will not hesitate to use the powers available to me under the EPBC Act to prohibit the import of Savannah cats if it is necessary to protect the environment.”
Indeed the Draft Assessment Report prepared by the Department of Environment (DEWHA) this June has concluded that there are “extreme” risks of the Savannah Cat establishing a wild population and becoming a pest following establishment. With a prey kill-rate of 49% (compared with the. domestic cat’s 10%), the Savannah Cat is likely to introduce enhanced hunting attributes into feral domestic cat populations and heighten the risks to native fauna. It also poses a "moderately dangerous" risk to public safety.
The draft report available at www.environment.gov.au is open for public comments until July 17. To voice your concern over the proposed importation of Savannah Cats, sign the petition at GoPetition.
For cat lovers, search for “cats” at http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/ for special tips to help protect our wildlife, from building a cattery to putting bells on your cat.
* Catherine Cheung is a trained marine biologist. Since the early 1990s, she has worked for major international organizations (WWF, IUCN, UNDP) on conservation and development projects across SE Asia and the Middle East. Currently based in Noosa, she is actively involved in the Noosa Integrated Catchment Association and Noosa Parks Association.
Source: Catherine Cheung for the canberratimes.com.au