Kangaroo corpses are eaten to death by cats

The hidden camera, recording a feral cat eating a 30kg kangaroo, spent many days in the Simpson Desert, surprising researchers.

Emma Spencer, a PhD student at the University of Sydney, arranges a series of cameras in the Simpson Desert and several animal carcasses to study the impacts on the non-profit Ethabuka reserve of the Bush Heritage Australia, how The foothills of Isa are several hundred kilometers to the south. Spencer was surprised to see a feral cat eating kangaroo carcass weighing 30kg for days.

The cat ate kangaroo hard for many days.(Photo: ABC).

"If wild cats come across animal carcasses, it's a free meal for them. They probably have very little competition. In an environment like this, only birds swoop down to share the dead." Spencer said.

According to ecologist John Read of the University of Adelaide, the effects of the environment, especially the prolonged drought in New South Wales and South Australia may have encouraged wild cats to eat scavengers, a fairly different behavior. Usually in this species."Drought narrows their main source of food for rats, small birds and reptiles. Therefore, cats have to take advantage of the animals," Dr Read explained.

Dr. Read had done similar research in the area 15 years ago. Research results show that eagles and crows are the main scavengers in the Simpson desert. Dr. Read speculated that the feral cat's behavior could be a reaction to the lack of alternative food.

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