AS we are on the subject of zoos again, may I say that they can give one another awards till kingdom come, but it won't alter the fact that they are prisons, where animals are deprived and where many become surplus to requirements, ending up in lots of unsavoury places.

As for the zoo's conservation claims, well they had to do something to counteract their teetering image. If you ask yourself about wild habitatats being depleted, you will realize that zoos are one of the biggest culprits.

Remember the "Bring em back alive" policy. It would be better if we taught children to respect animals, instead of ramming the zoo at them. However, it's working the opposite way round now because in a lot of cases children are much more perceptive and even teaching us adults.

It's only a matter of time before the zoo is just an obnoxious black blot in our history books.

M Gavin,

Ashfield Road,

Bispham.