새파와 고양이파의 싸움 속에서 [남종영의 인간의 그늘에서]

A new video from YouTuber 'New Duck' shows dead birds that have fallen into the sea. These birds are being eaten by cats in a nearby forest. The video creator called for a nationwide petition to ban feeding birds in apartment complexes, parks, and green spaces, and to incorporate stray cats into a capture, care, and adoption process.

However, in reality, strays that are reported are often captured and adopted without any hope of rehabilitation, returning to a life of misery. Stray cat activists are calling for a united response to protect these animals. Both petitions have received over 50,000 signatures, and are now being reviewed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Food.

The two camps are similar in their goals of protecting birds and cats, but the dynamics of human relationships introduce biases. Recognizing and addressing these biases is crucial. The video lacks this bias. The issue is not the animals themselves but the policies in place. Rational discussion should focus on policies, not individuals.

Mainstream life sciences often abstract behavior and phenomena at the species level. Therefore, a single study cannot conclude anything definitive. Just as studies on coffee have shown it can be good or bad for health, similar debates exist for birds and cats. The 'TNR' (Trap-Neuter-Return) method for managing stray cats is also a subject of scientific debate.

While policymakers agree it's the best approach, the scientific community remains divided. Recent research from the city of Rishon LeZion, Israel, shows that a 70% sterilization rate led to a 7% decrease in the cat population over 12 years. This indicates that high-stress sterilization is more effective. The previous method of capturing and removing cats led to a "ballooning effect," where neighboring cats moved in.

Cats do not act according to our wishes. Animal behaviorist philosopher Vincent Després reminds us that the act of killing is not what kills animals, but rather the action of making them disposable beings. Després emphasizes Dona Haraway's point that by viewing cats as "killable" entities, we inadvertently save birds from being eaten.

The 'New Duck' law attempts to balance this asymmetry. Both sides are entangled, and accurate questions can help save individual lives. The question should not be "cat or bird," but rather "how can we coexist with cats and birds while minimizing harm?"