It would do well for Alan Page to refrain from sharing his faulty knowledge regarding wildlife (Oxford Mail, June 27).

If one cares about animals, respects their right to life - and that means the manner of life that nature has accorded them, not some man-made alternative that is far from normal - then one does nothing that may affect that life, which certainly includes all bloodsports.

Although it matters not to the quarry species whether its short life is immeasurably better or worse than that of intensively-farmed livestock, both should matter to humans.

Those of us who actively campaign for the total abolition of sports that entail cruel exploitation of other species, also abhor and decry the abominable conditions in which many farmed animals, birds and fish are kept.

Unfortunately time is finite, but Mr Page has no knowledge of our private dealings with those organisations which devote their time and resources to ending cruel practices, has he?

Rational people feel dread when witnessing or hearing fanatics.

But Mr Page's assertion that "any group of irrational bigots can impose their will on the rest of us if they shout loudly and for long enough" brings to mind the appalling demonstrations and promises of civil disobedience proclaimed by hunters and their supporters before the hunting ban.

The same people continue to believe that their "human rights matter more than animal rights" and act accordingly.

But they are wrong. It ill behoves them to flout the law.

BEA BRADLEY, Cuxham Road, Watlington