SEO/Birdlife charity denounce cat campaign

The SEO/Birdlife charity has denounced the release of sterilised cats on La Graciosa by Lanzarote Cabildo, claiming that it threatens seabird populations and other native species.

The complaint relates to a capture, neuter and release campaign carried out in July 2024. SEO /Birdlife claims that “This approach not only fails to reduce the cat population; it also allows sterilised cats to continue hunting and damaging the island’s biodiversity.”

They are calling for the Cabildo to recapture the cats and remove them from La Graciosa entirely. The charity also supports a constant surveillance of stray cats on the island and an education campaign aimed at keeping domestic cats indoors to protect local wildlife.