Falcons kill in order to survive (From Worcester News)

Falcons kill in order to survive

8:00am Friday 15th May 2009 in Read

SIR – May I reply to M Wainwright (May 6). Peregrine falcons, like all predators, kill in order that they themselves may live.

In the wild, all creatures must look to their own survival.

They have two main endeavours – finding sustenance and avoiding becoming food for something else. Death is quick – there is no lingering. All creatures are part of the world ecological system.

As I understand such matters, the RSPB exists primarily to protect all birds, falcons, eagles, vultures, sparrows, robins, whatever, from the depredations of the planet’s dominant species. Some, among the dominant species, are unique to the planet, in that they kill other life forms, not in order to survive, but it would seem, to gain pleasure by killing for its own sake. In contrast, for birds of prey and big cats killing for food is hard work.

The pleasure, apparently derived by some humans, by killing other life forms for its own sake has been the subject of controversy in the columns of the Worcester News.

D E MARGRETT,
Worcester.