A stag was shot dead in Richmond Park on Saturday after injuring a man who had been picnicking nearby, raising concerns about growing interactions between visitors and the park’s deer population. The incident took place near Roehampton Gate Café shortly after 6 p.m., when the stag reportedly approached the man’s group in search of food, according to a spokeswoman for Royal Parks.
The injured man, believed to be in his sixties, was taken to hospital with chest injuries described as non-life-threatening. Emergency services, including paramedics and an ambulance crew, responded promptly to the scene. Witness Jeremy Calvert, who was cycling nearby, observed several police vehicles near the café and noted it was an unusual area to see deer, which tend to stay deeper inside the park.
Royal Parks officials said the stag’s behaviour was judged to pose a significant danger to visitors, leading to the decision to euthanize the animal. The spokeswoman emphasized that Richmond Park's deer are wild animals and urged visitors not to feed, approach, or touch them. She warned that repeated feeding can erode the deer’s natural caution around humans, encouraging them to seek food from people and increasing the risk of injury.
This incident follows ongoing concerns about visitors disregarding park rules. In recent weeks, Royal Parks staff have been alarmed by videos circulating online showing people feeding and approaching deer in Bushy Park as well. Last month, Paul Richards, manager of Royal Parks, cautioned that such behaviour is “deeply irresponsible and highly dangerous,” highlighting that the park’s red and fallow deer, numbering over 630, can react aggressively if threatened.
The incident and rising tensions come amid changes to park security. Since November, Richmond Park has been without a dedicated Royal Parks police unit, disbanded due to cuts within the Metropolitan Police. Local safer neighbourhood teams have assumed responsibility for the area. Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Richmond Park, linked the reduction in dedicated police coverage to increased risks in the park, criticizing the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, for not providing what she called “necessary” funding.
A spokesperson for the mayor’s office responded by urging visitors to adhere to wildlife guidelines for the safety of both the public and the animals. They also noted that despite challenges, the mayor has invested £1.26 billion in the Metropolitan Police, significantly dampening previously planned cuts.
Richmond Park, established in 1637 as a royal hunting ground by Charles I, has a long history of coexistence between its deer and the public. However, recent incidents indicate a strain on this balance, underscoring the importance of maintaining safe distances between people and wildlife.