Taking the Cats Out Leads to Raiding the Kitty

[Ursa major]

The removal of cats in 2000 caused "catastrophic" damage to the ecology of a sub-Antarctic island, a study says.

Since cats were removed from Macquarie Island, rabbit numbers have soared, and the animals are now devastating plants.

Cats previously kept a check on rabbits but were eradicated because they were also eating seabirds, scientists relate in the Journal of Applied Ecology.

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Rabbits devastate island wildlife
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...one element of the cost is the 24m Australian dollars ($17m, £11m) that authorities will spend eradicating rabbits and the rats and mice that eat seabird chicks.

 

[Grimward]

I guess returning the cats would either be more expensive or equally as devastating to the royal penguins?

 

[Tillane]

Further proof (if such were needed) that human beings really ought to keep their noses out of nature's business. We really are hopeless.

 

[Overread]

proof that we really should not have set sail in big ships all those years ago.
At least the authorities are taking a firm line with things - whilst the operation needs to speed up a bit the fact that they are willing to go through with it is good.
I wish out lot would get their act together - we are running out of reds - and the greys are not targeted at all (sorry not got anything wrong with the greys - lovely creatures, but the way things are we will lose our reds to them)