I MUST take issue with Mrs C Bessell regarding her interpretation of the treatment of animals in circuses. To claim that wild animals in captivity are treated with respect is clearly false, to imprison and subject any animal to the conditions of circus life does not show them any respect. Wild animals are shown respect if they are left to live in their natural environment as part of the ecosystem where they belong.

To transport animals around from place to place to repeat the same tricks day after day does not replicate their natural lives or bear any resemblance to natural behaviour. Camels and zebras in the wild do not trot or walk around in circles as these animals do in the circus ring. Whips indicates to me that they have most likely been used as part of the training regime, and there is undercover footage.

Animals don't perform tricks because they want to; they perform them because they're afraid of what will happen if they don't.

D Collins Bolton