New Zealand: More than 370 cats killed in controversial hunt

A controversial cat-killing contest in North Canterbury, New Zealand, has sparked outrage among animal rights activists.

The event, which was attended by 1,500 people, including 440 children under the age of 14 who were not allowed in, resulted in the deaths of 370 wild cats over the weekend, according to reports. New Zealand Herald Monday.

Originally, this large charity hunt to raise money for a local school was only for deer, pigs, ducks, opossums and rabbits, but has since been opened up to wild cats as well.

“Unfortunately, New Zealand is a cat-loving country, so we've had some controversy from different groups,” event organiser Matt Bailey told local media.

Animal rights groups demonstrated at the site to denounce these hunting operations in which even children participated, while the organizers defended themselves by reminding that domestic cats were not targeted by the “hunters.”

However, the Hunters camp and Animal Rescue Movement activists want new legislation on sterilizing and abandoning domestic cats, according to New Zealand media.

During the hunt held last weekend, nearly NZ$60,000 (about US$50,000) was raised, with the “hunter” who caught the largest cats receiving US$1,000 and another, who killed 65 cats, receiving half that amount.