Michael Sammut (The Sunday Times, June 1) comments on the alleged slaughter of birds and animals in the UK. I cannot comment on other countries, except Malta, but in the UK we are seeing vast increases in the fox population in some areas, a few even live under buildings in towns. I make no comment on fox-hunting, which the government here has banned, but fox numbers need to be controlled.

Turning to squirrels, we have two types in the UK. The native red squirrel, which is now very rare and is restricted to a few small areas of the country, and the grey squirrel. The grey was imported into this country many years ago from the United States. It is more aggressive than the native red and carries a virus to which our native red has no defence. The grey is classed as vermin like rats and pigeons.

Recently a black mutation of the grey squirrel has been found, which threatens to be even more destructive than the grey. Grey squirrel numbers need to be reduced to save our native red. If this does not happen it will eventually wipe out the native red squirrel in much the same way as has happened in Malta with birds.

I have said before that most birds shot in the UK are bred for the purpose and are then eaten as a delicacy. I understand that in Malta most are just left where they fall or thrown away. Pigeons are shot by farmers to protect crops.

Referring to Mr Sammut's comments on the alleged lack of turtledoves, I offer the suggestion that as they have been blasted out of the sky for so many years, perhaps those flocks that used to emigrate via Malta no longer exist in any numbers any more.

Returning to the accusations about what happens in other European countries, may I suggest that two wrongs do not make a right. As a regular visitor to Malta I would love to see more birds flying in this wonderful country.