Compassion is up to us all

Sir, – Much is being written in The Courier Letters page on culling wildlife and blood sports in general.

There is no doubt certain species need to be controlled so a balance between farmers and sporting estates and the general public is maintained.

Why does this have to happen at all? The answer goes back into the mists of time, as the population grew and encroached on wildlife, many natural predators were hunted to extinction or lived on the very margins.

After the Highland clearances much land was altered for large hunting estates and the land you see now is very much altered from 200 or 300 years ago.

Unfortunately, due to human needs and expansion, culling will continue and many will still indulge in blood sports, and the hunting estates will have to manage certain species.

What most people want from land users and land managers is honesty about why things are done, and we who access the land for pleasure have every right to question why and how things such as culling need to be done and every right to insist on compassion.

There is no easy way to kill animals, but we must ensure it is done for the right reasons and as humanely as possible.

Blood sports are part of Scottish rural life, many enjoy a day’s shooting, fishing or stalking.

It’s up to the rest of us to accept this, but also to challenge bad practice and law-breaking, and ensure the laws governing blood sports and culling are tough enough for purpose. Bryan Auchterlonie. Bluebell Cottage, Perth.

What most people want from land users and land managers is honesty about why things are done, and we who access the land for pleasure have every right to question why and how things such as culling need to be done, and every right to insist on compassion