Cat curfew is purrfect remedy for wildlife attacks (Reuters)

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) – Cats in several suburbs of Sydney will be ordered to curl up inside from dusk to dawn under a curfew that hopes to curb overnight attacks on native wildlife.

The move in by the Leichhardt local government area, on the inner west side of Sydney, was inspired after deputy mayor Michele McKenzie's son rescued a brushtail possum and its baby when they were attacked by a cat.

There are also plans to reintroduce a colony of ringtail possums, which are much smaller in size, to the municipality, and McKenzie wants the animals to have the best possible chance at survival.

But the odds are stacked against the possums unless cats, which can climb trees to catch the animals, are stopped from prowling at night.

There have been some 564 reported cat attacks on ringtail possums in the last year alone, making up the biggest part of total cat attacks on wildlife, wildlife protection agency WIRES said. "It's a small thing to ask people to keep their cats indoors if it means protecting our native wildlife." McKenzie said "After all, they were here first, we've introduced domestic pets, so we have a responsibility to control them."

Whilst the curfew cannot be strictly enforced, an education and information program to be sent out by the local government will propose that cat owners keep their pets indoors between dusk and dawn, monitor their cat's activities during the day and attach two bells to their collar.

The proposal will cover the suburbs of Balmain, Rozelle, Lilyfield, Annandale and Leichhardt. McKenzie said local residents were very responsive. Cat owners "don't imagine, because they feed their pets, that they are attacking wildlife. But it is a natural instinct, cats will prey on wildlife -- and because they can actually get up in the trees they are a bit more dangerous than dogs," McKenzie said.

"Dogs will do terrible damage to a possum, but they don't get them quite as often because they don't climb trees."

WIRES reported that over a 5 year period, there were 16,775 attacks by all types of domestic pets on native wildlife.

(Reporting by Amy Pyett; editing by Elaine Lies)

Corrects reference to Sydney in lead.

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Tunisian authorities impose curfew

Tunisian riot police face protestors in Tunis on May 6, 2011 during a youth protest against the transitional government.NEW: Police fire occasional tear gas canisters into the crowd, protesters throw stonesPolice and military are deployed in Tunis as protesters gatherAuthorities impose an overnight curfew on Tunis and surrounding areasProtests in Arab nations started in Tunisia after a fruit cart vendor set himself on fire

Tunis, Tunisia (CNN) -- Several hundred protesters were gathered in the center of Tunisia's capital Sunday as riot police stood guard.

Members of the Army and military vehicles were also deployed on the main street outside the country's interior ministry.

After police fired occasional tear gas canisters into the crowd, groups of young protesters fled and then returned. Some younger protesters threw stones at police, but older men gathered among the group urged them to calm down.

On Saturday authorities imposed an overnight curfew in the capital and surrounding areas following a weekend of protests against the interim government and security forces, state media reported.

The latest protests come amid growing concerns among Tunisians that their demands for democratic rule are not being met. Protesters are calling for the continuation of the democratization process, fundamental reforms, and a return to the ideals of the Tunisian revolution.

On Saturday protesters called for the resignation of the interior minister as they chanted, "The people call for a new revolution" and "No fear or terror, power belongs to the people," Agence Tunis Afrique Presse reported.

Authorities said the curfew, which will run nightly from 9 p.m to 5 a.m., will prevent looting and protect citizens, the government said.

Protests in Arab countries started in Tunisia when an unemployed college graduate set himself on fire after police confiscated his fruit cart and cutting off his source of income.

The act sparked massive demonstrations over high unemployment, government corruption and political repression, and led autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to leave the country in January.

CNN's Nic Robertson contributed to this report.

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