Killing for fun

Published on Tuesday 30 September 2008 21:31

Dan Buglass's claim (Farming, 29 September) that the ban on foxhunting has created problems for farmers is open to question.

First, horse-and-hounds foxhunting was always an institutionalised exercise, confined to certain pockets of rural Scotland and made possible only through the self-seeking involvement of affluent landowners.

Second, there are now well-organised massacres of local fox populations carried out all over Scotland, legitimately, by brigades of riflemen. A friend of mine took part in one this year at an estate near South Queensferry "to protect the pheasants". Seven adult foxes were killed.

Isn't it bizarre that man, in his arrogance, considers it right to rear pheasants in order to have a bit of fun gunning these half-tame birds down, but objects when a wild animal, following its instincts, does what comes naturally?

I continue to be amazed at the persecution of foxes; to kill a pheasant, for pleasure, is an act of human entertainment, but to kill a fox is to say: you could spoil our entertainment, therefore you should be dead.

ALASTAIR CLARK

Linn Mill

South Queensferry, West Lothian