MARIUS, a male giraffe killed in a European zoo, was not killed “to ensure success of giraffe breeding in the future”.

It was killed as, in respect of the breeding programme, it’s genetic material was surplus to requirements.

If the animal had been allowed to live, it would have neither hindered, nor helped the programme, it would merely have continued to live.

However, this continued life, would have come at a cost. The cost of feeding and housing.

In a sane world, this would not have posed a problem but we do not inhabit a sane world.

Just look around you.

Enough food is produced in the world, to feed each and every person alive, but our fellows die in their hundreds of millions. Why? Because food is produced to be bought and sold for a profit, not primarily to eat.

If we can countenance the death through starvation, or directly attributable diseases, of our fellow humans, a giraffe stands no chance whatsoever.

Steve Colborn, Seaham.