In the remote conservation sites of South Australia, a quiet but devastating predator is undermining efforts to restore native wildlife! New research led by UNSW Sydney and the University of Adelaide has used DNA analysis to confirm that feral cats are the primary predators responsible for the deaths of reintroduced species, highlighting a broader ecological crisis facing Australia’s native mammals.
Field conservationists have long relied on physical evidence, including tracks, bite marks, and carcass remains, to determine the cause of wildlife deaths. However, these methods risk misidentifications, leading to uncertainty in predator management strategies. The study, conducted at Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park and the Arid Recovery Reserve by Ryan-Schofield et al. (2025) took a more precise approach. The researchers collected DNA swabs from carcasses and conducted necropsies to determine the true cause of death. The results showed that of the 74 confirmed predation cases, 96% were attributable to feral cats. This level of precision offers new clarity in the ongoing debate over the role of introduced predators in Australia’s declining biodiversity.
The impact of feral cats on native wildlife is well documented. Previous studies estimate that these animals kill over 1.5 billion native mammals, birds, reptiles, and frogs annually across Australia. Since European settlement, feral cat predation has contributed to the extinction of more than 20 native mammal species, making them one of the country’s most damaging invasive species. This latest research reinforces existing data while providing a more detailed picture of the scale of the problem.
What next?
The findings have significant implications for conservation management. If feral cats are the leading cause of mortality for reintroduced species, then current control efforts may need to be intensified or reconsidered. Conservationists have long debated the ethics and effectiveness of cat culling, and with mounting evidence of their impact, more direct intervention may be necessary to protect vulnerable species, such as trapping and neutering programmes. Some states have already introduced cat curfews and targeted removal programmes, but widespread and coordinated efforts are still lacking.
The challenge now is to integrate these scientific insights into policy and on-the-ground action. Conservation is rarely straightforward, and balancing ecosystem restoration with ethical predator management remains complex. However, without decisive intervention, the reintroduction of native species will continue to be compromised. With the tools now available to identify and address key threats, researchers and policymakers face an urgent task: to translate knowledge into action before more species are lost.
References
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (2025) Feral cats in Australia. Available at: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/invasive-species/feral-animals-australia/feral-cats (Accessed: 11 March 2025).
- Harding, J., Moseby, K., Dawson, S., and Spencer, P. (2025) ‘DNA evidence confirms feral cats are major predators of reintroduced native species’, Australian Mammalogy. Available at: https://www.publish.csiro.au/AM/AM24031 (Accessed: 11 March 2025).
- UNSW Sydney (2025) ‘Feral cats confirmed as primary predators of reintroduced native species in South Australia’, Technology Networks. Available at: https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/news/feral-cats-are-killing-australias-native-mammals-dna-evidence-confirms-397053 (Accessed: 11 March 2025).
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