Governor Josh Green, M.D. | DLNR News Release-Feral Cat Feeding Protest Results in Two Citations

(WAIKOLOA, HAWAI‘I) – Two gals had been cited by officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources (DOCARE) tonight for the duration of a protest by feral cat activists. 

About 50 people, some carrying massive bags of cat meals, showed up in a rear parking lot of the Queens’ Marketplace Purchasing Center to protest the assets owner’s final decision to have a few cat feeding stations taken off, following getting warned by DLNR that cat food items was attracting nēnē, the Hawai‘i Condition Bird. The predicament came to the attention of DLNR from concerned citizens. 

Both of those ladies, with Waikoloa addresses, were being cited for prohibited take of endangered species (HRS 195-D), right after they allegedly put bowls of cat food on the floor. Both females were also educated by a Queens’ Marketplace stability officer that they have been trespassing and ended up no extended permitted any where on the assets. A third girl was issued a warning after staying spotted pouring cat food stuff into bowls at the rear of a get rid of. 

A neighborhood feral cat feeding group mobilized about 50 men and women to protest the choice to halt feeding feral cats at Waikoloa. 

DLNR along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Support (USFWS), has legal duty for shielding indigenous Hawaiian species, such as our nēnē. Nēnē are stated as an endangered species under Hawai‘i state law and are outlined as a threatened species below federal legislation. Law enforcement is necessary to just take action to protect against feeding of nēnē, which is deemed unlawful consider (a negative influence on a threatened or endangered species). Additionally, in this situation the landowner is not supportive of creating or preserving feeding stations on their house.   

Feral cats can be severe predators of our indigenous species and can vector lethal disorders which includes toxoplasmosis. For this cause, the DLNR has formerly mentioned its assistance for maintaining cats indoors and not feeding or protecting cat colonies, as described in Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council Resolution 19-2, supporting the maintaining of pet cats indoors and the use of peer-reviewed science in pursuing humane mitigation of the impacts of feral cats on wildlife and individuals. 

In a assertion issued currently DLNR claimed, “As animal fans, we strongly imagine that keeping cats indoors is superior for cats and far better for the indigenous wildlife, including the nēnē, for which we are dependable.” 

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RESOURCES 

(All movie/pictures courtesy: DLNR) 

Hd video clip – Waikoloa citations (April 18, 2023): 

https://vimeo.com/819005877

High definition video clip and photos – Nēnē and cats at Waikoloa (April 17, 2023): 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/zwg07b953hh77nebsu7kv/h?dl=&rlkey=9hwmzlxyxnvufv2bzi07601q5

Images – Waikoloa citations (April 18, 2023): 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kx89pw4cbg527g9/AAB7CPXwa8Vd48ns5VAccn36a?dl=

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Dan Dennison                                                                       

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