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Tags / Keywords Felis catus (Cat )
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Tags / Keywords rose-ringed parakeet
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Abundance and Home ranges of Feral Cats in an Urban Conservancy where there is Supplemental Feeding: a case study from South Africa

Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB

Available Online

Downs, C.T.

Tennent, J.

There is much debate surrounding the impact of feral cats (Felis catus) on wildlife. Conservancies areusually areas where indigenous flora and fauna are protected and aliens excluded or managed. The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Howard College campus (HCC) is an urban conservancy containing feral cats that are presently not managed, and little is known about their ecology and behaviour. Consequently a feral cat population census was conducted, and their home range investigated. Estimates of the overall campus feral cat population numbers ranged between 23.4–40.0 cats/km2 with a minimum of 55 identified as resident. They were not randomly distributed in the study area, with spacing patterns being related to resource availability. Home range area and core distribution of eight radio-collared cats were determined over 13 months. Total home range areas were relatively small, with considerable overlap between them. Home ranges were clustered in areas with permanent feeding stations and these were also within the cats’ core ranges. Supplemental food resources appear to have a major influence on numbers, home and core range area, and behavior of cats. It is clear that cat densities grow to high levels with reliable and abundant food supply and only ad hoc sterilization. This has implications for their management in the HCC urban conservancy.

A Review of Feral Cat Eradication on Islands

Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB

Available Online

Alonso, J.

Donlan, C.J.

Martin, A.

Nogales, M.

Puerta, B.

Tershy, B.R.

Veitch, D.

Wood, B.

Feral cats are directly responsible for a large percentage of global extinctions, particularly on islands. We reviewed feral cat eradication programs with the intent of providing information for future island conservation actions. Most insular cat introductions date from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, whereas successful eradication programs have been carried out in the last 30 years, most in the last decade.

Biology and Impacts of Pacific Island Invasive Species. 15.Psittacula krameri, the Rose-Ringed Parakeet (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae)

Available Online

Kalodimos, N.

Shiels, A.

The rose-ringed parakeet (RRP), Psittacula krameri, has become established in at least four Pacific Island countries (Hong Kong China, Japan, New Zealand, U.S.A.), including the Hawaiian islands of Kauai, Oahu, and Hawaii. Most Pacific islands are at risk of RRP colonization. This species was first introduced to Hong Kong in 1903 and Hawaii in the 1930s1960s, established since 1969 in Japan, and in New Zealand since 2005 where it has repeatedly established after organized removals. The founding birds were imported cage-birds from the pet trade. In native India, RRP are generally found associated with human habitation and are considered a severe agricultural pest. In the Hawaiian Islands, RRP are increasing and expanding their geographic ranges below 500m elevation. Population estimates in 2018 on Kauai were ?6,800 birds, which was a three-fold increase and a 22.5% annual growth rate in the prior 6 years, whereas Oahu had ?4,560 birds with a 21% annual growth rate the prior 9 years; these rates suggest a population doubling time of ?3.5 years. Wild RRP can live 14+ years, can reproduce after 1.5 years, and have few effective predators. Breeding pairs produce 13 fledglings annually. RRP are seed predators and rarely seed dispersers; their flock-foraging behavior can result in severe damage to orchard and field agricultural crops including tropical fruit and corn (Zea mays), and such economic damages are especially pronounced on Kauai. Island societies should prevent new introductions and consider RRP deterrents and population control methods to protect resources.

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