War on feral cats: Australia aims to cull 2 million

By Julie Power
Updated February 22 2017 - 4:18pm, first published 3:48pm
A 6.8kg cat caught in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yangkuntjatjara lands had half a 5kg wallaby in its stomach. Photo: Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yangkuntjatjata Rangers
A 6.8kg cat caught in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yangkuntjatjara lands had half a 5kg wallaby in its stomach. Photo: Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yangkuntjatjata Rangers
The 5kg warru that was devoured by the 6.8kg feral cat caught by rangers. Photo: Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yangkuntjatjata Rangers
The 5kg warru that was devoured by the 6.8kg feral cat caught by rangers. Photo: Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yangkuntjatjata Rangers
Feral cats are considered the single biggest threat to native wildlife. Photo: Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre
Feral cats are considered the single biggest threat to native wildlife. Photo: Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre
The cull of feral cats will run until 2020. Photo: Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre
The cull of feral cats will run until 2020. Photo: Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre
The government will encourage local communities to trap and humanely euthanise feral cats. Photo: Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre
The government will encourage local communities to trap and humanely euthanise feral cats. Photo: Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre

The federal government will unleash every weapon in its arsenal to wipe out 2 million feral cats – about a third of the population  – and will provide $5 million to community groups to serve as foot soldiers in the battle.