A stag was shot dead in London's Richmond Park on Saturday after it injured a man in his 60s who was having a picnic. The victim was taken to hospital with chest injuries after the animal approached a group looking for food, according to The Royal Parks.
Incident Details
Emergency services were called at around 6pm on Saturday afternoon to take the man to hospital, where his injuries were assessed as 'not life-threatening'. The Royal Parks spokesperson confirmed: 'We understand from the police that thankfully the injuries were not life-threatening. Sadly, the stag's behaviour meant that it had to be put down as it was deemed to be a danger to visitors.'
The stag was shot by a Royal Parks wildlife officer. It is thought the stag went close to the picnic after it learnt to 'associate visitors with food'. The picnic was held metres away from the popular Roehampton Gate Cafe, a hotspot for visitors.
Public Safety Concerns
The Royal Parks also expressed concern about videos online showing people approaching deer in nearby Bushy Park. The spokesperson said: 'This is highly dangerous behaviour. Deer in Bushy and Richmond Parks are wild animals and should never be fed, approached or touched. Repeated feeding can cause deer to lose their natural wariness of people and seek out food from visitors, creating risks for both people and wildlife.'
They added: 'Getting this close, and offering food, puts people at real risk of serious injury. Our advice is simple. Keep at least 50 metres away, never feed or touch the deer, and if one comes towards you, put all food and packaging out of sight and move away slowly and calmly. Do not try to move the deer away yourself.'
Park Background
Richmond Park is a popular spot for joggers and cyclists and is home to 600-strong herds of red and fallow deer. The incident highlights the risks of feeding wild deer, which can lead to aggressive behaviour and ultimately the need to euthanise animals that become dangerous.
