A new study has revealed that the population of feral cats is increasing in Australia. These animals cover about 99.8% of the continent also including the surrounding islands. Many scientists have compiled over a hundred studies, undergoing research efforts to reveal the cause. In Australia, the total number of wild cats varies between two million individuals during hard times to six million cats during the rainfall season.
- The population of feral cats in Australia has increased.
- Other species are on the verge of extinction due to the dense population of wild cats.
- These animals occupy about 99.8% of Australia.
Around the islands, researchers argued that the population of wild cats is even more prosperous. The inland areas where rainfall was not that frequent were proved to be even more inhabited by these little animals. The primary concern of researchers was that the population of these cats was very dense even outside the conservation areas.
Feral cats had an inextricable impact on the environment. Specialists knew that they need to deal with their control. Conservation areas needed to be designated to control the entire population of feral cats. Unfortunately, there are many endangered species due to the extinction of wild cats.
This severe situation had determined conservation managers to use as a last resort some costly methods to deal with the increased number of cats. Among the techniques which could be utilized, there were mentioned predator-free fenced locations and also shifting populations of islands with no predators. Nevertheless, all these efforts proved to be insufficient while the number of endangered species continues to rise.
Wildcats continue to spread all around Australia. Conservationists spent a lot of money in their effort to diminish the number of cats while other species which are on the verge of extinction did not yet reach to benefit from any help to preserve their number. The Australian government is struggling to find a better solution to this devastating problem.
Here, the population of feral cats is much more increased compared to Europe or North America. The paradox is that these animals represent a curse for Australians mainly because they pose a threat to wildlife. The responsibility of eliminating wild cats pertains to humans.
Image courtesy of: wikipedia
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