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Elusive Feral Cat That Devastated Rare Duck Population Finally Killed
4 Aug
Summary
- A feral cat named 'Nine Lives' killed dozens of rare ducks.
- The cat evaded trappers for three years with erratic behavior.
- Its body will be taxidermied for educational purposes.
A feral cat, nicknamed "Nine Lives" for its remarkable ability to evade capture, has been killed in New Zealand after a three-year hunt. The large grey tabby was responsible for the deaths of dozens of pāteke, the country's rarest mainland duck, and other native wildlife on the Purerua peninsula. Conservationists struggled to track the cat due to its highly unpredictable movements.
The cat's capture on July 30, 2026, ended a frustrating period for the Pest Free Purerua project. "Nine Lives" was first identified in 2023 after it began killing pāteke introduced to the peninsula. Despite increased trapping efforts and monitoring, the cat consistently eluded capture, earning its name.
Officials stated the cat's body will be taxidermied for educational purposes, highlighting the impact of feral cats on native species. This event occurs as New Zealand expands its Predator-Free 2050 strategy to include feral cats, aiming for their elimination. Conservationists plan to reintroduce pāteke once the peninsula is deemed safe.
