I completely agree with Sandra Busell (Animal lovers don't love zoos, Letters, September 10). It is totally wrong that animals should be kept in captivity, and how anyone can get pleasure at gawping at the poor caged things is beyond me. Edinburgh Zoo's relentless determination to impregnate Tian Tian has again ended in failure; is it too much to hope that the poor panda will now be left alone?

I believe that in the future imprisoning animals in zoos will be classed along with humiliating lions and making elephants dance in circuses. Zoos will no doubt protest they act purely in the interests of conservation, but the naked hurt and fear which can be seen in the eyes of many of these animals, and their restless pacing in their cages, tell a very different story, and one which needs to be acted upon by politicians and the public.

Ruth Marr

Stirling