Feral cats are continuing to kill and eat endangered Hawaiian petrels on Kaua‘i.
Last week, researchers discovered the bodies of six-birds at a remote breeding colony in the Hono o Na Pali natural area reserve. The petrels had been dragged from their breeding boroughs and partially eaten, including one incident that was caught on camera. Although several colonies are being protected by seabird management, a single cat can kill a large number of nesting birds in a small time.
So far, researchers have found the bodies of at least 48 birds in the last two years. Dr André Raine is with the Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project.
He urges cat owners to keep their pets indoors. A video of a cat catching a petrel is posted on the website.