I READ with horror British Airways' plans to start serving ostrich meat on their North American flights.

Naturally active, nomadic birds, roaming up to 20 miles a day in the wild, ostriches are particularly ill-suited to the intensive living conditions of the meat industry. Yet ostriches raised for their flesh, skin and feathers, are confined to small pens with no opportunity to engage in this natural behaviour.

In addition to the cruelty of confinement and slaughter, transport is also dangerous and stressful. Last year, 21 ostriches died en route from Devon to Manchester after being packed five to a cage on un air-conditioned trucks.

This is the cruel trade British Airways want to contribute to by adding ostrich meat to their menu. Public pressure will surely prevent them from succeeding.

TONI VERNELLI, UK Representative, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, PO Box 3169, London NW1 2JF

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.