Domestic cat photographed on Fraser and Bribie Islands

Holiday snaps which show a ginger cat at Fraser Island’s famed Maheno Shipwreck and on the beach at Bribie have sparked a search for the family behind the moggy mugshots. PHOTOS, VIDEO

A post showing a fluffy ginger cat on camping trips turned into a social media version of a wanted poster after Fraser Island (K’gari) regulars spotted the illegal snaps and reported them.

According to Queensland Parks and Wildlife, the photos and video, which show a pet cat at the world heritage listed island’s Maheno Shipwreck and on a separate trip to Bribie Island, appear have been uploaded by a family on a four-wheel drive holiday around Australia.

QPWS Manager of Compliance Mike Devery said in a statement rangers were investigating the photos and vision at various locations including protected national parks and that the compliance team would attempt to track down the family and “issue them with an advisory notice before considering further compliance action”.

“This is a major breach of quarantine, as domestic animals including cats, birds and dogs are not permitted in Queensland’s national parks,” the statement read

“Rangers take a zero-tolerance approach to people who ignore the rules and bring domestic pets into national parks.

The ginger cat pictured at the Maheno Shipwreck. Photo: Contributed.

Social media users who follow various pages dedicated to Fraser Island (K’gari) “have not responded well” to the post and raised the alarm with authorities.

“Domesticated dogs and cats are incompatible with the natural values of our beautiful national parks and they can carry diseases and viruses that could impact wongari (dingo) populations,” Mr Devery said

“Wongari have an excellent sense of smell, and the smell of a cat could cause them to investigate that odour, which could result in a negative interaction between the pet, its owner and the island’s apex predator.

“And cats and dogs would love to explore the national park and beaches and could become lost or impact on native animals.

“People should keep their pets at home or in care while visiting our national parks and those who don’t know the rules should check our website.”

The same ginger cat photographed on Bribie. Photo: Contributed.

While the rules may have long been in place, it seems some are still surprised.

As recently as May 17, one user on the Fraser Island 4x4 camping Facebook page wrote that his cat was ‘ironically’ also named Fraser, after the place he loved and it was a “shame he won’t be able to see it”.

“Probably going to get destroyed in the comments but I would like to learn,” Ruairidh Paterson-Russell said on the page

“How come people are hating on cats being on Fraser or national parks?

“I understand wild Feral cats are destructive to the native wildlife, but these are domesticated house cats.

“Personally, as you can see in the photo, I just got a cat and he was going to come with me camping as I don’t have anyone to look after him and he’s only four months old. Of course on a harness with a long lead and he would be supervised and sleep in our tent.

“Also his only food would be food we brought which we would tidy up the rubbish from (cans/sachets etc).

The post had received more than 80 responses on Monday with most explaining it wasn’t possible to predict how a cat would extensively behave in a wild environment like Fraser and that even if it was well-behaved, any relaxation of the rules would open the gates for irresponsible pet owners.

It’s not unheard of for pets to be found on the island.

Five Penalty Infringement Notices to the value of $137 each have been issued since November 2021, including three in 2022 for bringing domestic pets onto K’gari.

This cat earned its owner a fine after it was recently spotted on Fraser Island (K’gari). Photo: Contributed.

“Additionally, bringing an unauthorised animal into a national park or recreation area will result in the owner or person in charge being given a fine and a direction to immediately leave, regardless of any camping or vehicle access permits they may hold,” Mr Devery said

“The Fraser Coast Regional Council banned domestic dogs and cats from K’gari’s residential areas in 2011 to help protect the island’s wildlife, including wongari populations.”

In 2020, two dogs were discovered and the owners fined.

There’s also speculation a feral cat or two, descendants of pet cats from decades ago when it wasn’t policed, are still lurking around the island with camping pages referencing sightings of a large black cat around Woralie creek road near Deepwater reported but not confirmed.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour told the Chronicle said it was important people cared for these places and kept “dangerous predators from wildlife”.

‘K’gari is a pristine wilderness,” he said

“As an island we have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to keep introduced species out.

“ It is totally irresponsible to take a cat there – it puts in danger the very environment people go to visit.”