Prof John Stein says that if animal rights activists cared about animals, they would support the development of Oxford University's vivisection laboratory (Oxford Mail, August 11). Why would we support anything that represents the expansion and continuation of a practice which is ethically abhorrent and scientifically corrupt?

He may try to alleviate any guilt he is capable of feeling by claiming these primates live in good conditions and are well cared for but, ultimately, these are wild animals being kept in unnatural conditions, ceaselessly experimented on and then destroyed.

He also claims that captive animals have a 'life of Riley' and live longer than their wild counterparts.

If he had a choice of living in his natural environment, surrounded by family and friends, free from pain, fear and exploitation for 12 years or 25 years cooped up in a barren cage, isolated, and in constant distress, I can guess which he would choose.

As for his preposterous question "would you want your head bitten off by a baboon, or would you prefer watching telly", monkeys have no need to watch television and, given the choice, would rather risk their chances in the wild than be subjected to the torment and frustration of being forced to do 'tasks' to satisfy the egos of a few deluded scientists.

It is another sad attempt to pull the wool over the public's eyes -- credit them with some intelligence. JULIET COLLIER, Headington, Oxford