IN response to Mrs Pat Simpson's recent letter to The Citizen (Letters, August 9), hundreds of zoos throughout the world are involved with international gorilla breeding programmes.

This does not mean that they are all producing young gorillas, but that they are actively participating in animal exchanges and donor females with other animal welfare centres to assist in preserving this highly endangered species.

In some areas of Africa gorilla numbers have fallen from more than 3,000 to less than 400 in just a few years. Animal conservationists predict that gorillas may be totally extinct in the wild by the year 2016.

Blackpool Zoo raises funds for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Foundation which cares for gorillas in the wild and it is also a participating partner in the "Bush Meat Petition".

Mrs Simpson, until her recent sudden resignation, was a trustee of Care for the Wild International who are also partners in this project. Obviously Mrs Simpson's memory must be at fault, otherwise she would have recalled this fact.

Gorilla Mountain has just been awarded first prize by UFAW in their Animal Welfare category. Surely even Mrs Simpson cannot deny or criticise the recognition that this fabulous new facility has received from one of the world's most prestigious animal welfare organisations.

Contrary to Mrs Simpson's remarks relating to use of the lake retreat, Jitu, Kukie and Lomie have unrestricted access during the day and they come and go as they please in all weathers.

However, as Mrs Simpson does not personally visit the zoo, she will have no real idea as to what actually goes on here.

There are more than 250 annual ticket holders and Friends of Blackpool Zoo, all of whom care passionately about the welfare and the future of animals all over the world.

Unlike Mrs Simpson we do not believe that we can make a difference by constantly whingeing on about matters we do not understand or have no real involvement with. We prefer to act in a graceful, positive manner without profile or recognition, supporting those who work in the care for animals.

Mrs Simpson's organisation, CAPS, claims to protect captive animals and is dedicated to the closure of all zoos, yet it offers no viable alternative or appears to have made no significant changes for the betterment of the animal world.

It's a fool who believes that animals are safe in what is left of today's natural wilderness. The wild no longer offers the opportunity for animals to grow old in peace. It's the work undertaken by zoos like Blackpool which is constantly striving and achieving to improve animal enclosures and their welfare that will make real contributions towards the safety and continuance of some of the world's most fantastic creatures.

Mrs Simpson should demonstrate some real commitment to animal welfare by promoting the rescue of endangered species in the wild instead of continuing her personal "I'll huff and I'll puff" campaign against Blackpool Zoo. Or perhaps she should direct her very aggressive campaigning to a more important social cause that perhaps has some genuine positive benefits to the community of this town.

Mrs. Vivien M Banks,

Chairperson,

Friends of Blackpool Zoo.