New Zealand Targets Feral Cats to Protect Native Birds (Full Transcript)

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Within the last 12 years, I've probably taken 500 cats.

[00:00:03] Speaker 2: New Zealand has a problem, feral cats. While they may look like their domesticated cousins, New Zealand's government says they're ruthless predators who need to be wiped out.

[00:00:12] Speaker 3: Because they are stone-cold killers, and they're going out and wiping out a lot of our birds.

[00:00:17] Speaker 2: New Zealand recognises feral cats as those that live in remote areas and find food for themselves, as opposed to domestic or stray cats. The government says only feral cats will be targeted in a campaign to protect endangered wildlife. Meet Mike. He's one of the trappers hunting down the feral cats. And meet his nemesis, Nine Lives.

[00:00:35] Speaker 1: We've went over here to name Nine Lives because he's been in our scope a few times and we haven't been able to get the deal done. He'll be the most elusive cat I've ever come across.

[00:00:44] Speaker 2: Mike says he's been hunting down Nine Lives for two and a half years.

[00:00:48] Speaker 1: And we've got him on camera, sitting at the base of traps, on traps, and he's winning at the moment.

[00:00:54] Speaker 2: And joining him, it's easy to see why it can be so difficult.

[00:00:57] Speaker 1: That looks like a cat one here. They put a trap up there and he's been busy down here.

[00:01:03] Speaker 2: One of the reasons Mike has dedicated so much time hunting Nine Lives is for these kiwis. But the feral cat was able to evade him once again.

[00:01:10] Speaker 1: Enemy was spotted on the camera last night, one o'clock this morning.

[00:01:13] Speaker 2: Do you reckon you'll get them all?

[00:01:15] Speaker 1: Yep. Takes a lot of time. A lot of time to get them.