Illustration by John Sadler www.johnsadlerillustration.com

• I WAS moved by the image of the anxious otters on your March 18 front page, flagging the story of staff facing the sack at London Zoo because of Covid losses and the lack of government support.

Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. But if it does I am mindful of my daughter coming home from school one Friday with a gerbil.

Surely the denizens of nearby Primrose Hill would have room in their hearts and their luxurious homes to care for some of the creatures the government seem prepared to abandon.

Obviously blocks of flats would need capacious lifts if larger mammals such as wildebeest are to be accommodated in such a modern-day Noah’s Ark scheme.

Hippos are perhaps not ideal for indoors, but could enjoy dipping in the Hampstead Heath ponds – always assuming the city corporation’s fees are not too extortionate.

While difficult times such as these require us to think outside the box, it would be better surely if the government faced up to its responsibilities.

KW HOWARTH, NW1