A bloody competition in which New Zealand children are encouraged to trap and kill wild cats has produced its biggest haul yet, with nearly 400 animals dead.
More than 1,500 people took part in this year’s event, held north of the South Island city of Christchurch, with 440 of those taking part aged under 14 years.
The event, as in past years, has been met with a storm of protest from animal lovers while being staunchly defended by its organisers, who include the farmer Matt Bailey.
Protesters from the Animal Save Movement said they were forced to flee after children taking part in the competition threw rocks at them
ANIMAL SAVE MOVEMENT
“Out here in the country, we do things a bit differently,” Bailey said on Tuesday, saying the publicity generated by protesters has “been the best thing that has happened to the competition”.
He said New Zealand’s feral cats were
