Nic Rawlence • Mar 05, 2018 •
New Zealand has long been considered the cradle of penguin evolution. But two new fossil discoveries, affectionately known as Bice’s, (pronounced Bee-chee’s), and Rosie’s Penguins, are rewriting early penguin evolution and have taken the world by storm. Move aside Penguins of Madagascar; there are some new and cool kids on the block! But how did we get to this … Read More
Guest Author • May 02, 2017 •
By Tim Doherty, Deakin University; Aaron J. Wirsing, University of Washington; Chris Dickman, University of Sydney; Dale Nimmo, Charles Sturt University; Euan Ritchie, Deakin University, and Thomas Newsome, Deakin University Humans and their canine companions share many close bonds. Wolves (Canis lupus) were the first animal domesticated by … Read More
- Wayne Linklater • Dec 18, 2013 •
The nation missed an important opportunity at Raglan. If cats have been removed from the Raglan community then, had we the time beforehand to prepare, we could have tested whether cats were a beneficial urban predator, as claimed here and here. Cats on evidence. Evidence on cats… and their relationship with other … Read More
- Wayne Linklater • Nov 26, 2013 •
Just because native species persist in our backyards despite being hunted by predators, like cats, it does not mean their populations are healthy. Our backyard can be a sink-hole for native species. Each killed is replaced by recolonisers who are themsleves be killed (photo source: inhabitat.com) Cats might be a “beneficial urban predator” according to Dr. John Flux. Read More
- Wayne Linklater • Nov 18, 2013 •
Our cats bring us only a fraction, less than half, of their prey and we are less likely to see the small, more palatable prey, like small reptiles and nestlings (Source: www.kittycat.co.za). Cats are a “beneficial urban predator” according to Dr. John Flux and his conclusion featured prominently in the media to have a … Read More
- Wayne Linklater • May 17, 2013 •
My cats died. I buried them – head to toe, together – in my rambling garden below the kowhai tree. I don’t garden on their grave. It is a weedy sinking mound – a tribute to what the living cannot control. I met my cats because I fell in … Read More
- Wayne Linklater • Apr 06, 2013 •
Lures have been critical to the control of New Zealand’ introduced mammalian pests. Convincing a mammal, like a rat, to visit or enter a trap and behave in ways that trigger its lethal mechanism has depended largely on food lures – aniseed, chocolate, peanut butter, eggs, meat and many more. Read More
- Wayne Linklater • Jan 30, 2013 •
To my horror, but thanks to Dr. Gareth Morgan’s recent announcement that he will donate $5 to Bob Kerridge’s SPCA for every cat they euthanize rather than release, I discovered that some factions of the SPCA are releasing cats into our cities, towns and countryside – lots of cats. Bob Kerridge – CEO SPCA – … Read More
- Wayne Linklater • Jan 24, 2013 •
Domestic cats kill native animals – fact. But… … just because our cats kill it does not necessarily mean that native animal populations cannot co-exist, or even thrive, where our feline companions live. Two considerations determine whether cat-kill exterminates native prey populations: 1. how many cats there are, and 2. how fast native animal populations in our backyards … Read More
- Wayne Linklater • Jan 23, 2013 •
The commentary of the last few days following Dr. Gareth Morgan’s media release has focussed too much on the messenger and how the message was delivered rather than understanding the problem and potential solutions. Some have described his views as extreme but whether or not they are extreme is less important than whether or not … Read More