Photo: Supplied/Whakatipu Wildlife TrustA restored wetland on the edge of Queenstown is drawing rare native wildlife back to an area once dry and barren, but conservationists say roaming pet cats could undo years of community-led work. Just after a rare and elusive bird species was spotted at the Shotover Wetland, the Whakatipu Wildlife Trust said trail cameras detected 44 cats over three weeks. "Fancy breeds, long hairs, ragdolls with collars - you could tell they were pet cats. However, pet cats roaming near towns could complicate trapping efforts, Harding-Shaw said. Whakatipu Wildlife Trust asked Queenstown Lakes District Council to make microchipping and desexing mandatory, partly because some feral cat traps switched off, if they detected a microchipped pet cat.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 11, 2026 18:37 UTC