CERIAN Cornel of the Sun Inn, Lydiard Millicent and The Evening Advertiser (Comments, May 14), are wrong in thinking that exotic animals are farmed and slaughtered in the same way as conventional food animals.

Kangaroos are wild animals. In the Australian outback, millions are shot annually simply for profit.

Many taking part in this slaughter are untrained marksmen. Some shots miss the head, catching the terrified animal in the neck or throat.

Bleeding but still conscious, their hind leg is sliced open, a hook pushed through the gash and they are hung upside down until their blood drains out of them. The unwanted baby joeys' are clubbed to death, stamped on or left to die of starvation.

Crocodiles are now being subjected to the horrors of the intensive farming system.

In the wild, these ancient creatures live in dark mangrove swamps but on farms, they are crammed into tiny areas with nowhere to hide. They are bludgeoned, knifed or shot at just three years of age.

The whole concept of plundering the planet for wildlife to turn into just another taste on someone's menu is appalling.

M Harrison

Toothill