The introduction of several animals to Australia by European settlers in the 18th century, such as rabbits, foxes and cats, greatly unbalanced local ecosystems. At the end of June 2023, the authorities of the Australian state of Western Australia revealed that they wanted to use killer robots to reduce the population of feral cats, reports West France.
Since their arrival on the island, the cats have rapidly reproduced in large numbers and are having a very negative impact on the native species, gradually decimating the endemic fauna. According to a study published in the journal Diversity and Distributions in March 2022, the cat and the fox would kill each year more than 2.6 billion birds, reptiles and small mammals.
Robots capable of spotting stray cats
The wildcat alone is said to have already eradicated 27 native animal species and is currently endangering another 120 species, reports Geo. To fight against this costly phenomenon on all levels, Western Australia has therefore launched a vast project at 7.6 million Australian dollars (4.6 million euros). Objective: kill six million stray cats in five years.
This plan involves the upcoming deployment of 15 killer robots built by local company Thylation. Solar-powered, they are equipped with lasers and cameras capable of detecting feral cats and differentiating them from other animal species.
Once the prey is in sight, the robot throws 8 mg of a toxic gel based on sodium fluoracetate. This poison is deadly once ingested by the feline after grooming. Robots are harmless to humans. As a reminder, for several months, certain localities have also introduced curfews for domestic cats. These measures, however, did not apply to Western Australia.
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