A contest encouraged children to hunt feral cats — until the backlash
Washington PostDec 24, 2022
New Zealand Cancels Child Cat-Killing Contest Amid Outcry
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Image copyright: Getty Images [via The Guardian]
The Facts
On Tuesday, organizers of an annual hunting competition in New Zealand canceled a children's feral cat-killing event following massive backlash from animal rights groups.
The North Canterbury Hunting Competition, an annual pest-killing event on New Zealand's South Island to raise money for a local school and swimming pool, had announced a new category this year for children under 14 to kill the most feral cats for a top prize of NZ$250 (US$155).
The Spin
Narrative A
Feral cats are predators and must be treated as pests as they decimate wildlife and biodiversity in New Zealand. Apart from regularly preying on endangered native birds, lizards, bats, and insects, they feed on young kiwi, invertebrates, and frogs. The planned cat-killing competition must be reinstated as it could teach children how to manage and cull invasive species responsibly.
Narrative B
There are more humane methods to deal with New Zealand's nefarious feral cats, including poisoning and trapping. Sending children off to hunt feral cats in a competition teaches young minds that it's OK to kill animals and that cruelty is acceptable. There are numerous ways to raise money; causing pain and distress to wild species shouldn't be one.
