SEO/BirdLife has filed a formal complaint with the Animal Welfare Area of the Cabildo de Lanzarote for the capture and subsequent release of cats in La Graciosa in July 2024. This island, which is a sanctuary for seabirds, is part of the Natura 2000 Network and is protected as a natural park.
The Spanish Ornithological Society has highlighted in a press release that "the presence of cats on islands like La Graciosa represents a serious threat to local fauna, especially for seabirds." Thus, it has added that "cats are efficient predators that can cause rapid and significant extinctions of species that are not adapted to their presence." The environmental NGO is aware of the presence in La Graciosa of at least a hundred species of terrestrial vertebrates included in the Canary Islands Catalog of Protected Species.
Sterilized cats also hunt
The capture, sterilization, and release or return (TNR) method applied at the request of the Animal Welfare Area of the Cabildo de Lanzarote "has proven to be ineffective in this context. This approach not only does not adequately reduce the cat population, but also allows them to continue hunting and negatively affecting the island's biodiversity."
The non-profit organization has pointed out that "the capture and release of cats in such a sensitive and protected area contradicts the conservation objectives of the Natura 2000 Network and the natural park, in addition to all existing regulations regarding biodiversity conservation," including the recent Animal Welfare Law that does not contemplate the presence of these animals where they pose a threat to biodiversity.
SEO/BirdLife, along with other environmental organizations, already warned of this fact in September 2024. Now, through this formal complaint, the Department of Youth, Open Government, Commerce, Consumption, Crafts, and Animal Welfare has been requested to "annul the actions carried out and issue a resolution revoking said campaign regarding the return of cats to the natural environment and proceed to capture and remove all released specimens from the island of La Graciosa."
The authorities are thus urged again to "reconsider their approach and implement more effective measures," such as controlling stray cats that roam the island, accompanied by constant surveillance to prevent their reintroduction. In addition, it has indicated that "it is crucial to involve the local community in conservation and educate about the importance of keeping domestic cats indoors to protect biodiversity."
In the opinion of Yarci Acosta, delegate of SEO/BirdLife in the Canary Islands, “in places like La Graciosa we are fighting the battle against the loss of biodiversity. We cannot start experimenting with strategies that have never worked, such as TNR/CES, and much less in places as fragile and threatened as this one.” And he adds that, “from SEO/BirdLife we will continue to require the administrations involved to comply with the legal framework that prohibits the release of cats in a protected space like this, considering if the judicial route is necessary.”
Kiko Álvarez, head of Conservation at SEO/BirdLife, adds: “Cats with owners must be controlled and not have access to the natural environment, in addition, there cannot be felines wandering around any Canary natural space. Due to its ecological relevance, the conservation of biodiversity in La Graciosa must be a priority, and the implementation of appropriate measures is essential to protect the valuable species and habitats that are part of the Natura 2000 Network.”
