Stag put down after attacking man in Richmond Park
Stag Shot After Attacking Picnic Group in Richmond Park
Ninoda.com – A male deer was shot dead by a Royal Parks wildlife officer following an attack on a man in his 60s at Richmond Park in south-west London on Saturday evening. The victim sustained chest injuries when the stag charged at his picnic party, apparently drawn to the group by the prospect of food.
Emergency Response and Hospital Outcome
Emergency services were dispatched to the park at 18:16 BST after reports of a deer attack reached control rooms. According to the Metropolitan Police, the injured man was transported to hospital, where medical staff assessed his wounds as neither life-threatening nor life-changing.
Royal Parks Response
The charity responsible for maintaining London's Royal Parks confirmed the stag had been put down because its behaviour was judged to pose a continuing danger to visitors. A spokesperson for the organisation commented:
"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."
"If visitors follow our advice and do not feed or interfere with the deer, it is highly unlikely that they will exhibit this type of behaviour."
Warning Against Feeding Wild Deer
Royal Parks issued a public advisory urging visitors to maintain a distance of at least 164 ft (50 m) from the animals. The charity linked the incident to a noticeable increase in social media posts—videos and photographs—showing park-goers offering food to deer.
"This is highly dangerous behaviour,"
the spokesperson stated, adding that deer in both Bushy and Richmond Parks are wild animals and should never be fed, approached, or touched. Repeated feeding, the charity explained, causes the animals to lose their natural wariness of people and begin seeking food from visitors, placing both species at risk.
Broader Park Guidance
Richmond and Bushy Parks together span 3,600 acres (14.6 sq km) and support a substantial deer population. Royal Parks advised all visitors to keep their distance, refrain from offering food, and retreat slowly should a deer approach. The spokesperson closed with an appeal for personal responsibility:
"We need everyone who visits to take responsibility for their own behaviour and to keep themselves, other visitors and the deer safe."
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