Shameful business

Animal welfare organisations have long been concerned that many shot birds are not killed outright, and go on to suffer. A former senior officer with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation recently reported that a study had found that "30-40 per cent of birds shot at are wounded and go off to die in the woods" and that "people are atrocious at judging the effective range of shotguns. This is a factor of lack of training."

As far as I am aware the study was never published.

Another major concern is the extent of predator control carried out on grouse shooting estates, including illegal poisoning of raptors and use of the cruel and indiscriminate snare.

Proponents of shooting will try to justify it on financial grounds. But killing animals for fun in the name of "sport" is not an activity of which compassionate Scots are proud.

ROSS MINETT

Campaigns director, Advocates for Animals

Queensferry Street

Edinburgh

How ironic that on the glorious twelfth a poisoned golden eagle is found on a grouse moor in the Borders (your report, 14 August). This bird was one of the only pair in the area and with a dependent chick.

This mindless act exposes the boast of those grouse moor owners and gamekeepers who claim to be the "the true guardians of our countryside".

Lothian and Borders Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward. This offence comes on the back of a record number of poisoning offences in 2006, and fines of as little as 100 recently handed down to a Borders keeper for the illegal possession of poisons will do nothing to stop this criminal activity.

LOGAN D STEELE

Bridgewater Avenue

Auchterarder, Perthshire