Incident and Response
On Saturday evening, a man in his sixties was enjoying a picnic in Richmond Park, London, when a stag suddenly attacked him. The London Ambulance Service contacted the police around 6:30 p.m. The victim suffered chest injuries and was transported to a hospital for evaluation. Fortunately, his injuries were not life-threatening or life-altering. A Royal Parks wildlife officer responded by shooting the deer, considering it a threat to park visitors.[S1][S4][S5]
The Royal Parks charity, which manages the park, said the stag had to be put down because it was deemed a danger to visitors. They suspect the animal had learned to associate people with food, likely due to previous feeding by visitors. The charity emphasized that such behavior is unnatural and could have been avoided if visitors had followed advice not to feed the deer.[S1][S3][S4]
Warnings and Safety Advice
The Royal Parks organization has issued multiple warnings to visitors, urging them not to feed or get close to the deer in Richmond and Bushy parks. Paul Richards, the park manager at Richmond Park, explained that feeding alters the deer's behavior, encouraging them to approach humans, which can lead to severe injuries. He emphasized the potential danger, mentioning that stags can weigh over 159 kilograms and sprint at speeds reaching 48 kilometers per hour.[S1][S6]
The Royal Parks advises visitors to maintain a safe distance of 50 meters from deer and refrain from feeding or touching them. If a deer comes close, visitors should hide any food and packaging and calmly back away. Additionally, the organization requests that people do not intervene if they witness someone endangering themselves or the deer, but instead promptly contact the police to report the incident.[S1][S3][S4][S6]
Recent Incidents and Concerns
The Royal Parks have issued a stern warning against feeding deer, following a series of concerning incidents. This caution comes on the heels of online videos and photos depicting visitors interacting with deer in Bushy Park, shortly after a similar event in Richmond Park. The Royal Parks expressed their dismay at this behavior, labeling it as 'highly dangerous'. They have now made three appeals this summer, urging visitors to exercise caution, as some have been seen petting deer.[S2][S5][S6]
Richmond Park and Bushy Park together host a combined population of around 950 deer, with 630 in Richmond Park and 320 in Bushy Park. Charles I introduced deer to Richmond Park in 1637, transforming it into a hunting ground. These two parks span a total area of 3,600 acres, or 5.6 square miles. The Royal Parks organization emphasizes that the deer have ample natural food sources and do not require supplemental feeding, even during droughts.[S1][S3][S4]
