UniSA MOD. exhibition for 2021: It’s complicated, featuring the 1950 cat parachute mission in Borneo
Curiosity may have killed the cat, but cats in parachutes killed a horde of rats, in a bizarre 50s operation at the core of a new exhibition at Adelaide’s MOD.
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A curious chain of events led global health authorities to parachute cats onto the island of Borneo, back in the early 1950s.
Now Kent Town animation studio Anifex has recreated the strange-but-true scene for the new free UniSA MOD. exhibition, which is open Tuesday to Saturday until November 27.
As the accompanying comic Operation Cat Drop by George Rex explains, the story shows that humans can’t always see the big picture.
“They can’t always grasp the bigger web of effects their actions have on other people, animals, environments,” Rex writes. “It’s interesting to see how what seems like a really good idea can turn into an unintentional catastrophe.”
The cats were air-dropped in to eat the rats, which were spreading disease with ease after the local cats were accidentally poisoned with DDT and other insecticides intended for mosquitoes. These chemicals, sprayed to control malaria, entered the food chain and bioaccumulated, in other insects, then lizards and then cats.
MOD. director Dr Kristin Alford says it’s a classic case of “unintended consequences”, where people fall into the trap of thinking they can control a complex system.
“When I heard that story, this is what I pictured,” Dr Alford said.
“I mean, I’m sure it wasn’t exactly like this, but it’s just such a delightful visual.”
The exhibit in the foyer of the UniSA Cancer Research Institute on North Terrace, next to the Morphett Street bridge, is a perfect introduction to the new museum of discovery exhibition.
“It’s Complicated” encourages visitors to think about all of the complex and interconnected systems around them and ask how seemingly small changes can have such a big impact.
It’s Complicated runs until November 27. Visit mod.org.au for more information.
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