Eat the Invaders on ABC and ABC iview S1E5 –
Tony ventures to the frontlines of the feral cat war, uncovering a complex truth. While cats are beloved pets, they also pose a significant environmental threat, killing three billion animals per year. Complicit in numerous native animal extinctions and jeopardising many more, feral cats have become a pressing concern.
At Yookamurra Sanctuary in South Australia, Tony seeks to understand the stakes involved, meeting some of the at-risk wildlife that live behind cat-proof fences, essentially prisoners in their own lands.
As he learns about the damage caused by feral cats, Tony begins to question the innocence of our domestic pets. To test this, he meets two devoted cat owners and attaches GPS trackers to their feline friends for a week. An expert reveals the extent of the harm that pet cats inflict when allowed to wander freely. However, Tony realizes that solving the cat crisis by eating them may not be a practical solution.
In Kiwirrkurra, cat hunters view cats as a threat to their local ecosystem and hunt them accordingly. And in the desert, no protein is wasted. Consulting invasion biologists Phill and Andy, Tony learns that while responsible measures can be taken against feral cats, eating them may not be a viable control method for wider Australia.
Back at Mona, Vince and Kirsha prepare a daring feast for a tough topic. Joined by Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki, they embark on a culinary journey that underscores the importance of keeping cats indoors.
Production credit:
Commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. A Closer Productions production for the ABC. Principal production funding from Screen Australia and the ABC. Financed with support from the South Australian Film Corporation and Screen Tasmania. International sales by ABC Commercial. Writer and director: Matthew Bate. Executive Producer: Rebecca Summerton. Producer: Sarah Wormald. Creative Producer: Kirsha Kaechele. ABC Commissioning Editor: Kalita Corrigan. ABC Head of Documentary and Specialist: Susie Jones
Eat the Invaders on ABC and ABC iview – Tuesday 4 February at 8.30pm
TV Central ABC content HERE
Eat the Invaders on ABC and ABC iview S1E5
