Island’s feral cat-free milestone

THE state government is marking 10 years since Tasman Island was declared free from feral cats, after a pest eradication program on the island.

The project began in 2008 in an effort to restore the island’s natural values.

The plan included baiting, trapping and hunting the animals, with the last cats trapped in May of 2010.

“Before the success of this program, feral cats were killing between 30,000 and 60,000 fairy prions per year, along with a significant number of short-tailed shearwaters,” Parks Minister Jacquie Petrusma said.

Since then, the population of short-tailed shearwaters and fairy prions has more than doubled.

“It is wonderful to see this dramatic increase of sea birds on the island, which is expected to continue to increase going forward since the feral cats’ removal,” Ms Petrusma said.