The stag has been put down as its behaviour was deemed ‘a danger to the public’, Royal Parks said
Royal Parks officials have been forced to scold deer-feeding visitors yet again after a man was attacked by a stag. The roaming animal approached a picnic group in Richmond Park over the weekend after ‘learning to associate visitors with food.’
While the parkgoer’s injuries are not life-threatening, the stag has been put down as its behaviour was deemed ‘a danger to the public’, the park authority said. Royal Parks is now urging people to be sensible for the third time this summer, having previously shared footage of people touching the deer.
“We are shocked and alarmed to see that more videos and photographs are circulating online of park visitors feeding and approaching deer in Bushy Park, just days after we warned of the dangers of getting too close to the deer, and after a man in Richmond Park was injured by a stag this weekend,” a stern statement reads.
“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. Getting this close, and offering food, puts people at real risk of serious injury.”
“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.”
Park visitors were previously told to call the police if they see anyone interfering with the city’s deer after a video emerged of a group feeding them in Bushy Park. Staff issued a warning weeks earlier when adults and children were caught stroking the deer in Richmond Park.
A further video shows a man trying to move a stag away from his picnic with a large tree branch. People are asked to stay at least 50 metres away from the deer at all times.
If one comes near, put all food and packaging away and move away slowly and calmly. The renewed warning continues: “Between them, Richmond Park and Bushy Park cover 3,600 acres.
“Our staff and volunteers do a great job of speaking to visitors, and we have signage across the parks, but we cannot be everywhere at once. We need everyone who visits to take responsibility for their own behaviour and to keep themselves, other visitors and the deer safe.”
The worrying clips have lead some viewers to call for the dedicated Royal Parks police to be reinstated. The Metropolitan Police announced in 2025 in was disbanding the unit as part of cuts due to a £260m hole in its budget.
At the time, disappointed Richmond Council Leader Gareth Roberts raised concerns over the decision. He said the parks need officers with specialist training and experience, and without the Royal Parks police, responsibility for the vast open spaces will fall to overstretched local officers who are already managing high demand elsewhere.
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