No mammal recovery from feral cat experimental exclusion trials in Kakadu National Park

A four-year experimental trial in Kakadu National Park found no significant recovery of small and medium-sized native mammals following the exclusion of feral cats, despite their known role as a major threat. The study compared predator-free plots with those allowing cat access, alongside the effects of frequent fire, between 2013 and 2017. While cat predation was expected to suppress populations, results showed no evidence of mammal population recovery in response to exclusion. Additionally, frequent burning appeared to negatively impact native mammal diversity independently of cat presence. These findings suggest that management strategies focusing solely on feral cat suppression may be insufficient for reversing ongoing declines in tropical savanna ecosystems, where fire and introduced herbivores also significantly impede recovery.

Stokeld, D., Fisher, A., Gentles, T., Hill, B. M., Woinarski, J. C. Z., & Gillespie, G. R. (2021). No mammal recovery from feral cat experimental exclusion trials in Kakadu National Park. Wildlife Research, 49(4), 335–346. https://doi.org/10.1071/wr21073