News

Premier Wayne Panton, MP, JP, as of today, 9 February 2023, has responded to the open letter from the Cayman Islands Humane Society dated 6 February 2023 in relation to the National Conservation (Alien Species) Regulations, 2022 (“The Regulations”).
The Regulations gazetted on 3 November 2022 provide a prohibited species list, outline the distinctions between domestic and feral animals, and further define the procedures and allowable actions to control feral animals and other alien species to reduce the threat to our native species.
Government acknowledged its support of spay and neuter programmes, but in light of extensive scientific evidence and literature, the Premier also acknowledged that Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) programmes are not a feasible way to address the overpopulation of feral cat colonies across the Cayman Islands:
“Of the 129 feral cats captured since 2007, only seven feral cats (two in 2007 and five in 2023) were spayed/neutered. This is a very strong indication that the TNR efforts in Little Cayman have not penetrated the broader feral population of cats there, leaving those animals to not only predate on the young of several regionally and internationally important species, driving their populations into drastic declines, but to also live short and miserable lives in the wild, which raises several serious animal welfare issues. It is for these reasons that the Government will not entertain the application of TNR as a population control method.” said Premier Panton.
Visit GOV.KY to read the full letter from Premier Panton.
For more information on the National Conservation (Alien Species) Regulations, 2022, visit conservation.ky.