BRIGITTE BARDOT - BARDOT ATTACKS ALASKAN GOVERNOR OVER WOLF HUNTING

Silver screen icon BRIGITTE BARDOT has attacked the governor of Alaska for his refusal to ban the aerial hunting of wolves.

Bardot, an avid environmental campaigner, has written an angry letter to Governor FRANK MURKOWSKI, slating the decision he made last month (DEC05) to allow hunters to shoot wolves from aircraft.

It's the third successive year Murkowski has made the concession, which campaigners claim has caused the death of more than 400 wolves in the past two years.

Bardot, 71, writes, "I am disgusted and deeply shocked at learning of your decision to reopen the aerial killing of wolves for the third straight year.

"How dare you justify a slaughter that is so degrading and dishonorable for the human condition?"

Murkowski, through his spokesman MIKE CHAMBERS, counters that hunting was allowed under a carefully drawn up plan intended to eliminate predators.

He says, "We're talking about a targeted and thoroughly studied predator control program, to protect preserve and sometimes even increase the numbers of animals that are very important to Alaskans.

"There are thousands of Alaskans that quite frankly live on land, they still hunt for their food. I would guess that Brigitte Bardot doesn't know that."