Is this just coincidence?

I may well get myself in trouble here, but I do have views about this story and will just have to take the risk

Sue as we know, comes in and haves a big rant and often never comes back to check to see what replies her post received. The we may not see her for a while, but when she does come in we can expect another good old rant

When I got to meet her I soon found something we would never agree on, she supports the NCP being in Torbay. On this issue I mostly agree with her, just her idea that some kids could have some to look after, was in my view a daft suggestion.

Carol and I have been to Living Coasts and we saw the display when it was open, I'm surprised if people would not want to view it, as most who go there find if you walk to fast, its all over and your back outside.

I can understand those who feel its wrong keeping sea birds etc, under a large net, when the sea is so very close, I always felt it should have been build in the main zoo itself.

It is a near copy of the same attraction that you will find inside and part of Bristol zoo and that one is all included in the entrance price.

Circus's and zoos had to change, for me the circus has lost much of the magic appeal it had when they had animals, but I supported the move to stop them as there was real evidence that the animals were not treated as well as they should have been.

Still at the interval break when they came out and put up those sections that made up a cage around the ring, it was always frilling. Once erected it never seemed safe and would move when touched. Enter a group of loins or tigers and you sat in fear and fascination.

Some zoos were also very guilty of not having good and proper enclosure's and homes for their animals, the one near Plymouth had the most disgusting bear pit that sent the bears who lived in it, completely mad. That has now gone and real progress has been made in zoo's to improve conditions for the animals in their care.

Paignton zoo is a very fine example of the progress that has been made and as you will know it is owned by the Whitley Wildlife Trust, who also own living Coasts. In the old days zoo's were no more than attractions, the word conservation is one they like to use today.

Lets be honest in the wild rats are a pest and need to be controlled as they do pose a health risk to humans. The rats at Living Coasts were captive bred and used purely as an attraction. It is not good enough to say the space they took up, is needed to make way for a children's attraction and a loo block.

Yes if the rats were not proving very popular and it was felt the space could be used better, thats fine, but Paignton zoo has redundant buildings now closed to the pubic, where the display could and should have been kept until a better solution could be found. Sorry Whitley Wildlife Trust, you can't go around parading under the banner of conservation, if you kill animals in your care, just because as an attraction they proved unpopular.

I was also disgusted the peacocks were also killed, there was no need and a better solution should have also been found then.

Their rats Dave, rats, I`ll agree with the peacocks issue but rats, no I`m sorry, do you have a problem with head lice being mass slaughtered by insectacide or wood worm suffering a similar fate, there all pests! Ever been to a garden show and see a bed full of weeds win first prize? I also don`t take to the theory that they are all gods creatures, they might be but some were created to counter act others and or feed others everything has a porpoise mate, I like fish but I also think some of them taste quite nice!

Point taken but in my opnion some creatures are animals ond others are pests!

I think I will stay out of this one.

Jim its just my view, you know I love and support the zoo as much as I can. this week a group of eight went from Barnstaple, as I told them they can't come to the Bay and not see our great zoo.

Fair play Jim, don`t blame you at all!