Plan to ban hunting in Northern Ireland is mystifying because such bans in other parts of UK have been of no benefit to wildlife

Relying on a flawed consultation on hunting that was open to literally anyone across the globe is just the first error in the letter from Peta’s Sascha Camilli in her support for an anti-hunting bill in Northern Ireland (‘Let’s hope hunting in NI is banned without delay,’ March 3, see link below).

It is unclear if Ms Camilli has ever witnessed hunting with hounds, but her graphic description sounds more like fanciful propaganda than fact and it would be interesting to find a scientist who would verify the biological damage she claims results in a fox when hunted.

Given that the process is the same as that which occurs when predators chase their prey, one has to wonder why so many anti-hunters are in favour of rewilding.

Would it not be preferable to listen to veterinarians who specialise in wild animal welfare and its management?

They argue that this process is, “The evolutionary or natural way to reveal the weakness, injury, disease or simply old age of the individual, is by way of pursuit — a natural process that been undertaken by wolves and other predators for millennia” (from The Veterinary Association for Wildlife Management, VAWM, document: ‘Life in the Wild’, published in 2011)

It is nonsense to believe that all those who support hunting are simply out to see an animal killed for fun. Hunting with hounds is far more than just a ‘sport’ – it is a process that is less concerned about the numbers killed and more about the population level and health of those left alive.

Having seen the serious difficulties and cost to the tax-payer created by hunting bans in other parts of the UK, all to absolutely no benefit to wildlife, it is totally mystifying why any politicians would want to go down the same route, especially at the time of a global pandemic.

Gary McCartney, Countryside Alliance Ireland

• Peta: Let us hope hunting with dogs in Northern Ireland is banned without delay

• Letter: Stormont MLAs have a unique opportunity to end hunting practices that belong to the Dark Ages

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