World-first poison bait not so cool for cats

• Western Australian scientific breakthrough for feral cat control

• New weapon to protect native species

Western Australia has achieved a scientific breakthrough in wildlife conservation with the Eradicat® feral cat bait approved for predator control across the State.

Environment Minister Albert Jacob said after a decade of research in WA to refine its use, the Department of Parks and Wildlife will start large-scale feral cat control using the product as part of its flagship wildlife conservation program Western Shield.

Mr Jacob said the registration of Eradicat® by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority was significant in the fight to protect wildlife from the threat of feral cats.

"Feral cats are widespread across the State and they are proficient hunters." he said. "We know they are a key driver in the extinction and decline of many native species.

"The use of this product will complement the broad scale fox control carried out by Parks and Wildlife under a reinvigorated Western Shield, which is working to ensure the sustainable recovery of native animal populations."

About one million poison baits are laid annually across more than three million hectares of department-managed land, from as far north as the Pilbara, through the forests of the South-West, to areas east of Esperance.

"Western Shield has been achieving strong results with dramatic increases in the populations of several threatened species including the chuditch, quokka and western brush wallaby. Thanks to Western Shield, we have been able to remove quenda and tammar wallabies from threatened fauna lists," the Minister said.

Eradicat® has successfully controlled feral cats in Faure Island in Shark Bay, Cape Arid National Park on the south coast and Lorna Glen in the northern Goldfields.

Western Shield is generously supported by sponsors including Alcoa of Australia, BHP Billiton Worsley Alumina and Tronox. 

"WA is so large that the State Government can't do this alone, so community and industry partnerships are essential in helping to conserve wildlife," Mr Jacob said.

       Fact File

• Populations of at least 53 threatened mammal, bird and reptile species remain in Western Shield fox-baited areas

• Western Shield has established 37 new populations of threatened native animal species

• Fox numbers have been reduced by at least 55% in South-West baited areas

• Western Shield started in 1996 under a Liberal National government

Minister's office - 6552 5800