TWO vets for hunting are again widely circulating the nonsensical argument that "hunting is the natural and most humane method of controlling populations of all four quarry species and is a key element in the management of British wildlife in general".

This is untrue of any, including the fox, but it is especially wrong of the brown hare, hunted by around 100 packs.

The hare population is barely 20 per cent of that a century ago, in some areas so low that local extinctions are possible.

There is a Biodiversity Action Plan to double numbers by 2010 and hare mortality must be reduced to meet this. One cause of deaths - hunting - can easily be avoided.

'Vets for Hunting' suggest hunting helps by eliminating the "weak, sick and injured". Natural predators already do this for hares - quickly.

Healthy hares can easily outrun foxes, but can rarely escape relentless packs of hounds chasing them for up to 90 minutes.

Such unnatural, life-threatening situations produce critical levels of stress that compromise the hare's survival, even if it evades them.

Orphaned leverets may be left to die a lingering death from starvation.

Hunting with hounds has nothing to do with wildlife management - it is simply the tormenting and killing of wild animals for fun. It has no place in a civilised society, and it is disgraceful for practising vets to support this cruel and unnecessary practice.

RODNEY HALE,

Chairman,

British Brown Hare Preservation Society.