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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 |