Annual kiwi cat hunt stirs global outrage, sparks heated debate

Many countries have traditions or behaviors that other nations may consider unusual, strange, or dangerous. Bullfighting, for instance, commonly faces criticism in Spain or Mexico. Italians can’t understand how anyone can eat pizza with ketchup or garlic sauce, while the British are puzzled why some dislike tea with milk. However, New Zealand has taken the absurd to a higher level.

New Zealand faces a significant issue every year: stray cats, which are so numerous that they threaten the ecosystem. The country's authorities struggle to manage the roaming animals. Hence, they devised an odd, unusual, and rather drastic idea. Every summer, contests are organized to kill as many stray cats as possible. Moreover, children participate in this "game" and are rewarded for it.

The competition is organized in the rural areas of the Canterbury region. It combines fundraising for the local community with hunting rabbits, ducks, or possums. In 2023, a category targeting cats was added. This decision outraged animal rights activists, but organizer Matt Bailey argued that cats carry diseases and pose a threat and thus can be captured. During this year's contest, 340 cats lost their lives, many of which were young. It is important to note that children participated in the "game."

Due to the drastic nature of the photograph posted on "theguardian.com," we will not show it here. It depicts dead cats hung on a fence, with people around admiring the "trophies." Each participant was heavily rewarded. In the contest price list, 325 USD is awarded to the person who hunts the most cats, and 650 USD to the one who captures the largest creature.