Cats are contributing to the deaths of critically endangered Māui dolphins.
With numbers considered as little as 100, Manukau Harbour Forum members have heard a plea from marine activist Paul Arthur for extra safety for a species revered by Māori and current within the harbour.
Declared nationally essential in 2009, Arthur says Māui dolphin are current in Waikato and Manukau waterways, as much as about 10kms offshore, and information point out two recent deaths have been attributable to toxoplasmosis – making it very important to scale back the presence of the Toxoplasma gondii parasite in our waterways.
He says cats are the principle host of the parasite, with all outside cats selecting up the parasite at a young age, so stopping their waste coming into the harbour is vital, though there will likely be alternative ways of tackling that for owned and unowned cats.
“Newly contaminated cats can shed tens of millions and tens of millions of oocysts (egg-like constructions), that are then washed into waterways and out to sea when it rains.
“The oocysts are hardy and can survive in salt water, where it takes a single oocyst to infect a dolphin.”
Two recent Māui dolphin deaths have been attributable to toxoplasmosis – cats are the principle host of the parasite.
Manukau Harbour Forum chair Jon Turner says an training marketing campaign is required. “We have all heard about cats and the danger they pose to birdlife, however few of us would realise that they could be a hazard to marine life.
“There are easy issues residents alongside the harbour can do to assist stop the parasite from reaching Māui dolphins, corresponding to conserving cats indoors and disposing of their poo within the landfill garbage, desexing cats, by no means dumping or feeding wild ones, and supporting wetland conservation efforts to assist cease eggs reaching the water.
“And flushing cat faeces in the toilet just can’t happen. Māui dolphin are a precious taonga and we need to do everything we can to ensure they survive. Once they are gone, they will be gone forever.”
“Including inexperienced areas in backyard design and our backyards to assist filter rainwater and cut back stormwater run-off can be an important begin too. And these utilizing barn cats have to cease and as an alternative use typical trapping.
With giant tracts of farmland bordering the harbour, barn cats – sometimes launched to handle vermin in farm sheds, generally is a downside. “We need to act now. Farmers can help by keeping on top of rat and unowned cat populations on their properties,” Arthur instructed the Forum.
Nine native boards – Franklin, Papakura, Manurewa, Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Ōtara-Papatoetoe, Puketāpapa, Albert-Eden, Waitakere Ranges and Whau fund the discussion board.
You can learn a complete report on the state of the harbour here, and discover out extra concerning the discussion board here.
