It’s cruel to keep majestic elephants in zoos
THE photos of the baby elephants at Chester Zoo playing piggyback and rolling in the dust were beautiful (Mail), but the time has come to discontinue exhibiting and breeding these animals in captivity. Studies over the past 20 years have shown that these supremely intelligent, sentient animals do not thrive in captivity, where even the best zoos cannot begin to provide for their needs. They invariably suffer from ailments
Clean up the Lords
CHEERS for the Mail’s campaign for reform of the House of Lords. The institution has been transformed from a day centre for old hereditaries to a debating place for decayed party politicians. Why not go for selection of peers by electronic means and end the tie with party politics? JOHN MYLES, Peterborough,
Cambs. THE ideal second chamber would be a politically neutral body to scrutinise legislation and suggest amendments based on practical knowledge. Their powers should be subservient to those of the elected government.
To achieve this we need a cross-section of people without agendas or loyalties. I would suggest a similar system as is used to select jury service – pick one person from every constituency to serve for four years. There would be less incentive for empire building, such as arthritis and foot disease, rarely seen in the wild, have reduced lifespans and do not breed well. Artificial insemination is often the method of choice, but it is unpleasant for the cow and the bull. Babies are often rejected as mothers deprived of their matriarchal herd simply don’t know what to do. Chester Zoo may be one of the better ones, but it still can’t give these elephants what they need, which is the chance to roam as these Lords would be returning to their old lives and jobs once their term was up.
STEVE BrACEY, Bristol.
Moving story
I SEE Tsar Nicola the First is proposing tax breaks for migrants (Mail). I hope there will be similar breaks for emigrants.
I hear Monaco is very attractive and has a low-tax economy. As a pensioner I would be happy to move there, taking pressure off the NHS and freeing up my house for a ‘hard-working family’ – except there is little work here and there will be even less when the tourism bedroom tax is introduced.
I will take my pension pot with me, depriving the Scottish Government of the 41 per cent tax I pay on it and the spending power of the balance in the economy.
But I am sure Finance Secretary Derek Mackay and members of the Sustainable Growth Commission will be able to produce spin to gloss for miles every day, make their own choices and be what they were meant to be, wild and free. Money spent on captive breeding will do nothing to conserve this species and should instead be spent on helping preserve elephants in the wild. Another issue is the malign effect of the tourist industry, which uses and abuses them and threatens their survival.
JANE WILSON, Huntingdon, Cambs. over that particular problem. And I will get a mobile phone signal there too! ANDrEW GrEEN, Ardtoe, Inverness-shire.
Mobile madness
HoW dare RBS say its customers are forcing the closure of banks because they use mobile or online banking. Every time I go in one of the staff harrasses me to use the machines, which I refuse. SUzANNE FOSTEr,
Blacksboat, Moray.