SIR – Simon McCullough (Worcester News, October 30) seems inclined to withdraw from the debate over conservation and animal welfare.

Ridiculing my grammar and “intellectual” ability looks impressive but doesn’t address the actual matter.

To answer his questions, the geese at Bransford were culled, protecting habitat, other species and employment.

There certainly are muntjac and roe deer around Bransford.

A shot to the heart/lung area of a deer brings about death in fractions of a second.

The British Deer Society can provide more information about this.

Like or loath hunting, it never left a wounded fox to suffer and postmortem evidence has shown death to be extremely rapid.

The badger cull is an experiment, when completed an impartial overview of the evidence is vital before further action is taken.

Badgers are being shot by qualified licensed marksmen using rifles of the appropriate calibre with night vision equipment.

The same methods to shoot foxes have been employed by the RSPB and are favoured by the League Against Cruel Sports.

As yet there have been no corroborated reports of wounded badgers being found.

The cull has been kept secret due to intimidation and threats of violence from a minority of the animal rights movement.

Mr McCullough derides “Victorian Britain”, forgetting these times witnessed the beginnings of conservation and genuine animal welfare.

JON BURGESS

Malvern