Feral cat caught a year after destroying endangered tern colony

Friday 5 December 2025 · 5 outlets · 5 reports · updated Fri 5 Dec 2025, 4:30pm

In this story Department of Conservation

A 6kg feral tomcat has been captured a year after attacking an endangered black-fronted tern colony on Canterbury's Waiau Toa/Clarence River. In December 2024, the cat destroyed dozens of nests, leading the birds to abandon the site. Trappers believe the animal would have eventually reached the island again as river levels dropped.

How they headlined it

11:01am2:55pm3:58pm

1. The PressFri 5 Dec 2025, 11:01am

   Feral cat caught a year after destroying dozens of endangered tern nests (opens in new tab)

2. StuffFri 5 Dec 2025, 11:58am

   Feral cat caught a year after wiping out endangered tern colony (opens in new tab)

3. NZ HeraldFri 5 Dec 2025, 2:55pm

   Lone feral cat that wiped out Canterbury black-fronted tern colony finally trapped (opens in new tab)

4. RNZFri 5 Dec 2025, 3:58pm

   Feral cat that decimated a black-fronted tern colony finally caught (opens in new tab)

5. 1NewsFri 5 Dec 2025, 4:30pm

   Lone feral cat caught after destroying entire endangered bird colony (opens in new tab)