THE killing of a cygnet by a fox is an example of why hunting should not be banned, a businessman has said.

Ron Taylor, who breeds rare birds and runs a fishery in Bransford, spotted scattered feathers that led him to the mutilated carcase.

Mr Taylor, the owner of Fisherman's Feathers, said he was certain a fox was responsible for last week's attack.

"Every year at this time when the first frost comes they attack," he said.

Swans have used an island in the fishery to breed for years, but last year, all six cygnets were killed by foxes.

"Once the foxes get a taste for it they come back," he said.

"While the cygnets are on the island they are safe, but as they get a bit older, they start sleeping on the river bank."

But Mr Taylor is not worried about a fox attack on the endangered species he breeds.

The birds, which include the Indian Grey Jungle Fowl, the Argus Pheasant and the Vulturine Guinea Fowl, are protected by an electric fence in an enclosure fitted with intruder alarms.

"Foxes have no natural predators apart from man so there needs to be something to control their numbers," said the 73-year-old.

"In the past, farmers used to poison them, so hunting seems like a more humane way."

But a spokeswoman for anti-hunt group Protect our Wild Animals said hunting actually had the effect of increasing fox numbers.

"We have video and eyewitness evidence of hunters deliberately keeping fox numbers artificially high for the purpose of entertainment," she said.

"This time of year you also have cub hunting which causes the dispersal of stable fox families which leads to more breeding than if they were left in peace."

The spokeswoman added debate on the Hunting Bill frequently sparked stories "demonising" foxes.