This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-34524703
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Australia defends cat cull to Morrissey and Brigitte Bardot | Australia defends cat cull to Morrissey and Brigitte Bardot |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An Australian official has written an open letter to Morrissey and Brigitte Bardot to defend the decision to cull two million feral cats. | |
| The British musician and French film star have both criticised the plan, but Threatened Species Commissioner Gregory Andrews said it was an essential move. | |
| Morrissey has accused Australia of "taking idiocy just too far". | Morrissey has accused Australia of "taking idiocy just too far". |
| Mr Andrews said cats endangered more than 120 species and their cull would protect native wildlife. | |
| "Our native species are simply not equipped to coexist with feral cats; they did not evolve alongside predators like the feral cat," he wrote in his open letter. | |
| He said the plan, which will see two million cats killed over the next five years, has the support of major environmental organisations. | He said the plan, which will see two million cats killed over the next five years, has the support of major environmental organisations. |
| Morrissey has angrily attacked the scheme, calling the Australian government "essentially a committee of sheep-farmers who have zero concerns about animal welfare or animal respect". | Morrissey has angrily attacked the scheme, calling the Australian government "essentially a committee of sheep-farmers who have zero concerns about animal welfare or animal respect". |
| "The cats are, in fact, two million smaller versions of Cecil the lion," he said, referring to the famous big cat killed by a US dentist in Zimbabwe. | "The cats are, in fact, two million smaller versions of Cecil the lion," he said, referring to the famous big cat killed by a US dentist in Zimbabwe. |
| In July, Bardot wrote an open letter to Environment Minister Greg Hunt, calling the plan "scandalous". | In July, Bardot wrote an open letter to Environment Minister Greg Hunt, calling the plan "scandalous". |
| "This animal genocide is inhumane and ridiculous," she said. There is no word yet if either of the two have replied to Mr Andrews' letter. | "This animal genocide is inhumane and ridiculous," she said. There is no word yet if either of the two have replied to Mr Andrews' letter. |
| Australia's feral cat problem | |
| Source: Australian government | Source: Australian government |