THE plight of Knut the polar bear at Berlin Zoo has reopened a timely debate about the wide issues of keeping animals in zoos, something zoos are not likely to want as they gear up for their busy Easter season.

The Captive Animals' Protection Society is opposed to the captivity of animals in zoos, for animal protection and conservation reasons. Animals suffer greatly in zoos, with severe physical and behavioural problems created by unnatural habitats and social groups, lack of stimulation, etc.

Real conservation is about protecting natural habitats, not about keeping animals in zoos.

Polar bears are known for faring particularly badly. In the wild they cover huge distances (in an average year, a wild polar bear can roam over an area as large as greater London). A 2003 Oxford University study found that the average zoo enclosure size was one million times smaller than their natural home range, and that there is a direct correlation between the level of stress a zoo animal suffers and the size of its territory in the wild.

Staff at Berlin Zoo have had so much physical and behavioural contact with Knut that human behaviour has been strongly imprinted, making it difficult for the bear to mix with other polar bears, let alone be returned to a natural habitat (although zoos breed animals to keep in zoos, not release to the wild, anyway).

We must ensure that other animals are spared the misery of a life of captivity for entertainment. This can only be done by ending breeding in zoos and phasing them out. Perhaps, then, resources can be put into protecting natural habitats to benefit all species.
Craig Redmond,
Campaigns Manager,
The Captive Animals' Protection Society,
PO Box 4186, Manchester, M60 3ZA, UK
Tel/Fax: 0845 330 3911
E-mail: info@captiveanimals.org

I learned so much
TO all the staff in City Hospital Sunderland Trust. General Practitioner and health visiting staff from Sunderland and Easington Primary Care Trust, Education and Social Services colleagues in Sunderland and Durham, Special Needs team, Northeast Daslne Team, most of all my little patients and their parents.

I am sorry for not communicating to you all until now. My plan was to go back to work in the New Year, as I responded so well to my initial treatment for my ovarian cancer.

To my disappointment my illness has come back for which I need further hospital surveillance and treatment. I had to make this very difficult decision to retire from work.

I am very sorry if I let my patients and department down.
My sincere thanks to each and every one for your great support and help during my difficult time, as well as working less.

It was a great pleasure to work in Sunderland for the last 23 years. My particular thanks to all the members of the multi-agency pre-school special needs team both in Sunderland and Durham for moving autism and disability service forward particularly in pre-school area.

My thanks to Contact A Family and Autism Parents Group.

I wanted to do more but as you know, the last five years I had a roller-coaster ride in my personal life like a death, loss of my darling husband, my breast cancer and since last year, ovarian cancer.

Every time I bounce back I was faced with another challenge. But this was a great learning experience for me as if this made me a better doctor, a better and stronger human being and a much better understanding of my wonderful patients and parents.

I enjoyed my work more and more and wanted to continue.

My thanks to all nursery and school staff for their helpful observations of children which helped me in understanding children's complex problems. I learned a lot from you all. Big thanks to the autism team and child development team, my medical, nursing clerical educational psychology and therapists for their tremendous support.

I am sure Sunderland will continue to go forward in disability service as we have some wonderful hard working people in Sunderland. I was proud being part of it all.

I am still very positive and feel I still have a lot of work to do but for my special needs patients in whatever form it may be and also for my two lovely grandsons.

Who knows, I might bounce back again. With best wishes to you all and love to all my patients.

Dr Era Saharia,
Consultant Paediatrician in Community Child Help,
Sunderland City Hospitals

I WOULD like to thank the honest customer, Mrs A Errington, for returning my handbag to Sainsbury's on March 14, when I left it in a shopping trolley.
Ellen Hunt

I REFER to two photos recently printed in the Echo. First, the listed building, the old GPO building with its extension, which I think looks like a pigeon cree, in Sunniside, but our planners found it acceptable.
Next, Mr Trott's home with its dormer extension which, personally, I think looks excellent and is a credit to Southwick. I would like to know why planning bosses find it ugly, obstructive and disgracing the area of Southwick while the GPO listed building extension was approved.
Perplexed

CALLING all firestations. Here's a burning question for you. Following the (debatable) success of the gun and knives amnesties at police stations around the country why not have a chip pan amnesty? Think of the lives that would be saved, not just due to the prevention of fires but also to the prevention of clotted arteries.
M Davidson,
New Herrington

THANK you to all who attended the Ceilidh at the Sunderland Marriott Hotel, on February 17, raising £250 for St Benedict's Hospice.Thanks also to the fabulous band Cashel – a great alternative to discos!
Mrs Christine & Bill Phillips,
Fulwell,
Sunderland