HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0283.364 2024-2026From: Joanna Mane y
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Sent: Monday, July 7, 2025 6:35 PM
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To: Council Testimony
Subject: In Supporting of Bill 51�
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Aloha a Council Members,
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am in strong support of Bill 51, which seeks to prohibit the feeding of feral animals on County of Hawai'i property. I feel
compelled to write because it saddens me that Hawaii is known as the "Extinction Capital of the World,"
and yet so
much more could be done to preserve Hawaii's native wildlife. Native and endangered wildlife should have the highest
priority in our islands, not the invasive species.
It is a false assertion that "caretakers" providing food for feral cat colonies reduce the need for cats to hunt and kill native
wildlife. In fact, next to humans, cats are the 2nd most effective predator on the planet and one of only a few other
species that *kills for sport.* Cats are to blame for at least 63 modern-day extinctions worldwide. That includes 40 bird
species, 21 mammals, and 2 reptiles. They are cute but lethal. And feeding them supplementally only gives them a
greater advantage over endemic wildlife. A single cat can decimate an entire seabird colony in one night —the entire
colony, chicks and parents and often only one bird eaten. Remote cameras have repeatedly captured these massacres
and a quick google search will yield photos from multiple incidents.
The science is clear that trapping/spaying/neutering(TNR) and colony "caretaking" of feral cats has failed to even
maintain what was already a large overpopulation. By their own admission these feral cat supporters have been
"maintaining" some of these cat colonies for over 20 years. If this system worked these colonies would have died out by
now but none have. It is vital we get this right because the extinction of multiple species, known only to exist here in
Hawai'i, hinges on humans making the hard decisions to correct the problems we brought created.
Extinction is forever.
Cats are not in danger of extinction but many of Hawai'i's native species are. There is no such thing as an "outdoor cat
enthusiast," this is simply outdoor animal hoarding. I love all animals, including cats and many of these feral cats are not
thriving and are often suffering with disease, pest infestations, and lingering injury and infection. They spread
toxoplasmosis which infects and sickens wildlife as well as people. Cat feces washing into the ocean infect the monk
seals, often causing death. Precious species of native forest birds, seabirds, and monk seals are facing extinction. This is
one area we can truly help have a positive impact for them.
Do we really want to wake up one morning and hear the news that we have lost the last'i'iwi, nene, or monk seal? How
would you feel if you could only describe them to your youngest family members and know they'll never see one for
themselves because they are all gone? How would we feel knowing we didn't do everything in our power to save them?
These wonderful creatures attract tourism dollars for our economy but more importantly, they are valuable to Hawaiian
culture, Hawaiian history, and Hawaiian identity. We should celebrate them because they are precious and they only
exist here in these magnificent islands. They need our help and we will surely regret not meeting these challenges with
decisive action if they disappear forever. We need officials and civic leaders to make the hard choices to save Hawaii's
unique and beautiful species for future generations.
Sincerely,
Joanna Maney
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Comm. Mrs. Lb
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Ref. To:
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