Tag : Problematic

Los Angeles: Experts have warned that the categorization of domestic and wild cats will likely remain problematic for the foreseeable future, endangering current efforts to protect and restore native biodiversity. The native wildcat (Felis sivestris) is currently being restored in Britain, and native species are also being protected in New Zealand by conservationists. In both nations, domestic cats are a threat to other species. According to the study, New Zealanders have much less sentimental attachment to native species protection through pest management. Domestic cats are therefore treated very differently in the two nations. Cat conservationists in Britain and New Zealand were interviewed by Dr Virginia Thomas of the University of Exeter and Dr Alexandra Palmer of the University of Auckland. Even in the name of protecting wildcats, the British public strongly opposes killing feral cats. As a practical response, conservationists are managing feral cats through "trap neuter vaccinate release" programmes rather than by euthanizing them. The additional benefit of avoiding culling is that it prevents wildcats from being accidentally killed if they are mistaken for feral cats. However, some gamekeepers shoot feral cats as part of their predator control programmes, which is legal. Wildcats are protected, and killing them is illegal, but it can be difficult to tell the difference between domestic and wildcats. Domestic wildcat hybrids further complicate this issue, making it nearly impossible to prosecute cases of wildcat persecution under current law. A feral cat is frequently in the eye of the beholder because of different values and attitudes towards cats. Some people may see a cat and assume it's feral, while others may assume it's a w ...