Barry Green (born 1951 or 1952)[1] also known by his nickname "Cat Man", is an Australian feral cat trapper on Kangaroo Island and self-described conservationist of native Australian wildlife, which is threatened by feral cats both directly through predation[1][2] and indirectly through transmission of diseases including sarcocystis and toxoplasmosis, which also affect livestock.[3]
Barry Green | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1951 or 1952 (age 72–73) |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1996—present |
Cat hunting career
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Feral cats in Australia are estimated to each kill between five and thirty animals every day, and in 2016 the government of Australia identified Kangaroo Island as one of five priority islands for the eradication of feral cats.[1][3] Species predated by feral cats on Kangaroo island include Australian little penguins, short-beaked echidnas, and critically-endangered Kangaroo Island dunnarts.[3][4]
Green moved to Kangaroo Island in 1996, and he was introduced to cat-trapping by two local women.[5] As of 2020, Green has killed over 1,500 cats.[4] The largest cat that he has killed was 7.2 kilograms (16 lb), and he has only encountered one pet cat, which he gave to a local council rather than killing it.[5][6] To pay for petrol and bait, Green sells tanned cat hides and "stubby holders, bags and other quirky household items" made from them.[4] His home at American River, which has hundreds of cat hides in it, has become a local tourist attraction.[7] He provides data about his hunting to the South Australian Department for Environment and Water, and helps scientists at the University of Sydney study feral cats.[5]
Green has stated that he does not hate all cats, only the feral ones,[5][8] and is considered a local hero by residents of Kangaroo Island.[1] Despite this, he has received hundreds of pieces of hate mail, as well as multiple death threats because of his killing of cats.[7][9] For his work in wildlife conservation, Barry Green received the Outstanding Individual Award from the Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board, part of the government of South Australia, in 2018.[10][11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Meet Australia's feral cat killers". The West Australian. 5 January 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ Bell, Patrick (7 September 2023). Federal government declares 'war' on feral cats with new action plan open for feedback ABC News. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Adams, Prue (7 October 2016) Feral cats: Kangaroo Island's plan to eradicate all felines in 15 years ABC News. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Campbell, Claire (13 September 2020). Feral cats threatening endangered species on Kangaroo Island after bushfires ABC News. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d Hudson, Sarah (17 May 2017). "Kangaroo Island's cat man Barry Green". weeklytimesnow.com.au.
- ^ Gibson, Michael (6 June 2017). "Barry the Cat Man - 1300 Kills and Climbing". Sporting Shooter. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ a b Barrett, Peter (16 February 2016). "Kangaroo island's Barry Green wages war on feral cat threat to native birdlife". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ "Endangered species 'looking at extinction' on Kangaroo Island as feral cats roam". ABC News. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ Shooting Cats: Australia's War on Feral Cats. Vice News. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Feral fighter, soil saver recognised in environmental awards". landscape.sa.gov.au. 31 January 2018.
- ^ Feral cats threatening endangered species on Kangaroo Island after bushfires. ABC News. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via YouTube.