IT would seem that the Blackburn with Darwen environmental officer was determined that Mrs Mary Stanton should lose her capuchin monkey (LET, November 30).

One wonders why it is only this Monkey World place that we have heard about and why its particular scientific director was brought up from Dorset to make her rather shallow remarks at the magistrates hearing -- and, in particular, how much her visit cost the people of Blackburn and Darwen.

The monkey's environment has been no more unsuitable than that of many canaries, rabbits, ferrets and dogs -- and considerably better than that of battery hens and laboratory animals.

Certainly, monkeys live in extended families as many animals do, dogs included. When kept as pets they substitute humans for their family.

Capuchins are known to be rather benign or they would not be used as aids to disabled people. When Dr Alison Cronin says that May's pet Joe will now develop aggressive behaviour, she is voicing a purely surmised opinion and for her to describe the monkey's current environment as 'chronic' she is using the word in a most unscientific way.

That Joe will be happier with his own species is a flawed notion. If he is put in a monkey community he, as an outsider, will be at the bottom of the pecking order, bullied by all and live a miserable life.

JULIAN PILLING, Railway Street, Nelson.