A hunting competition in New Zealand where children were supposed to kill wild cats has been partially canceled after violent protests. This year, the organizers of the annual hunting competition created a separate category for cat hunting, in which children up to 14 years of age were supposed to participate. The prize money was 250 New Zealand dollars (141 euros). As a precaution, a warning was given not to kill tame house cats.
However, the organizers had not counted on the outrage that their initiative triggered on the Internet. The hunting competition, which aims to raise funds for a school on New Zealand’s South Island, now takes place without the children’s cat hunt.
Animal rights activists said they were relieved about the decision on Wednesday. “Like adults, children can’t tell the difference between a wild cat, a stray cat or an anxious house cat,” said a spokesman for the animal protection organization SPCA.
For their part, the organizers were appalled by the harsh reactions to their planned cat hunt for children. The school and others involved had received “disgusting and inappropriate emails,” they wrote on Facebook. In order to avoid further negative reactions, they therefore decided to “withdraw the category for this year”.
Cats that were once introduced and are now feral are a nuisance in New Zealand. According to the ministry responsible for the protection of native flora and fauna, they pose a serious threat to native wildlife, especially birds.