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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Australia defends cat cull to Morrissey and Brigitte Bardot | Australia defends cat cull to Morrissey and Brigitte Bardot |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| An Australian official has written an open letter to Morrissey and Brigitte Bardot to defend the decision to cull two million feral cats. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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 was first announced in July, will see two million cats killed over the next five years, and 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 | Australia's feral cat problem |
| Source: Australian government | Source: Australian government |