Native Hawaiian biologist receives death threats from cat colonists

[Punatang]

A Native Hawaiian Scientist is worried for his wife and children.  





https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/11/new-fe...ts-secret/

"Jordan Lerma has faced death threats for trying to persuade cat lovers around the Big Island to stop feeding feral colonies and for backing laws to discourage the practice.
As co-founder of a new nonprofit group, Nene Research and Conservation, Lerma knows that feral cats threaten Hawaii’s nene geese as they do other native and endangered wildlife. They also live far shorter lives than their domestic counterparts, as little as two years on average.
Now, Lerma is faced with an unusual dilemma."

[HiloJulie]

Makes me wonder who is more feral?

The people feeding feral cats and then making death threats against a scientist?

Or the feral cats themselves?

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Sure, kill the messenger.  That always solves the problem.

[Patricia]

Sad that people feel justified in threatening the well being of others with whom they disagree.

Domestic cats are one of the largest threats to bird populations anywhere.

But I am curious- how would not feeding them save nene? If the cats are not fed, will they not kill more birds? Personally, I wish there was a way to program the cats to solely go after and depopulate the dove swarms. :/

[Punatang]

Reading the article and the history of Nene deaths related to cats, it seems that the Nene are attracted to the cat food which contributes to their demise in multiple ways.  Clearly the Nene would be better off if they stopped endangering the cats by stealing their food.

[Wao nahele wahine]

Death threats to a man and his family....it just boggles the mind that some people would think that is justified behavior.

[Patricia]

Reading the article and the history of Nene deaths related to cats, it seems that the Nene are attracted to the cat food which contributes to their demise in multiple ways.  Clearly the Nene would be better off if they stopped endangering the cats by stealing their food.

Interesting. Thank you  Punatang.

[Punatang]

Reading the article and the history of Nene deaths related to cats, it seems that the Nene are attracted to the cat food which contributes to their demise in multiple ways.  Clearly the Nene would be better off if they stopped endangering the cats by stealing their food.

Interesting. Thank you  Punatang.

Indeed. My pleasure Patricia. Delving deeper, the science indicates that the cat poop spreads parasitic disease that kills not only the Nene but other endangered species:

https://www.civilbeat.org/2016/08/how-ca...red-seals/

"But it’s not the smells or caterwauling that is of primary concern to scientists. 
The biggest issue, federal and state scientists said, is the cats’ unique ability to spread toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that has killed at least eight critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals, two spinner dolphins, nene geese and native birds over the past 15 years. 
The problem is pitting scientists trying to save threatened marine mammals and other creatures against animal rights activists trying to save abandoned cats."

[HiloJulie]

This topic was discussed on PW prior:

Feral Cats

So, in my opinion, feeding feral cats SHOULD carry the SAME penalty as intentionally killing a Nene.

And if feeding feral cats is such a good thing, where are the coqui frog egg hatcheries? Why not have feral rat feedings? Why not have mosquito breeding farms?

[punikahakaiferret]

Now if we could only do something about the roaches, both six- and two-legged!