I WOULD request the right of reply to a letter in the Citizen (May 10) from Tony Williams of Blackpool Zoo who has attacked the Captive Animals Protection Society (CAPS).
One has to feel sorry for Mr Williams. His view of "quality education" is somewhat distorted if he feels that a zoo can teach anything to children about the wild animals that live on this planet.
Education is the means whereby a civilised society provides its citizens with the mental tools to understand the world in which they live and to enable them to live in harmony with others, including animals.
What Mr Williams seems to want is a population that will unquestioningly buy his product (captive animals) and keep him in business. He does this -- as do all those in the zoo industry -- by deception, claiming that zoos must keep animals in captivity to protect them.
Captivity serves no other purpose except to entertain. This is fine if you are happy to see animals suffer just so that people can view them. CAPS, however, is motivated not by the needs and wants of people but by the view that animals should not have to endure the life that zoos offer simply for display purposes.
We (CAPS) want people to realise that the conservation claims made by zoos are deceitful and unsubstantiated. After all, it is zoos that are responsible for putting the "con" in conservation. Fortunately this is now starting to filter through to the general public. Yes, it is true that the number of CAPS supporters is growing -- perhaps Mr Williams should stop to consider why this is so.
As for Mr Williams's other claims, they can be taken with a pinch of salt. CAPS does not engage in the business of propaganda, but fact. Blackpool Zoo has a track record of trying to obscure the truth. CAPS has to date received three letters of apology from Blackpool Council following the Zoo's continued misinformation in an attempt to attack this society.
Legacies that are left to CAPS are used to expose animal abuse and suffering and to produce education material using a varity of media, including video footage and magazines. We will continue to campaign in this way, regardless of how much it upsets Mr Williams and Blackpool Zoo.
Pat Simpson,
Captive Animals Protection Society,
Cherry Tree Road, Blackpool.
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