A stag was shot dead in Richmond Park, London, after it injured a man who was picnicking in the park. The animal approached the man's group on Saturday afternoon reportedly "looking for food," according to The Royal Parks.
The man, in his sixties, was taken to a hospital with injuries described as not life-threatening. Emergency services were called to the scene around 6 p.m.
The Royal Parks stated that the stag's behavior necessitated its euthanization, as it was deemed a danger to visitors. This incident follows previous warnings issued to park visitors against approaching or feeding the wild deer due to a "real risk of serious injury."
Visitors have been observed approaching and feeding deer in both Richmond Park and Bushy Park, despite advice to maintain a distance of at least 50 meters. The stag is believed to have approached the picnic group after associating visitors with food. The picnic was reportedly held near the Roehampton Gate Cafe.
"We can confirm that on Saturday evening, an incident occurred in Richmond Park which resulted in a man being injured by a stag, after the stag approached his picnic group looking for food," a spokesperson for The Royal Parks said. "We understand from the police that thankfully the injuries were not life-threatening. Sadly, the stag's behavior meant that it had to be put down as it was deemed to be a danger to visitors."
The Royal Parks advises that the animals are wild and "should never be fed, approached or touched." The organization noted that repeated feeding can cause deer to lose their natural wariness of people, leading them to seek out food from visitors and creating risks for both humans and wildlife. "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 behavior," the spokesperson added.
Guidance from The Royal Parks suggests maintaining a 50-meter distance from deer. If a deer approaches, visitors are advised to put food and packaging out of sight and slowly back away. In August, the charity expressed concern over footage showing children and adults feeding the animals. In a video uploaded in July, visitors were seen encouraging children to approach deer, with one man helping a child to pet a stag. Another instance showed a girl feeding a deer while being filmed.
"Several people rode Forest bikes through the protected skylark nesting area, herding the deer, while others were feeding them," said Amanda Boardman, a regular visitor, in July. "I also witnessed adults thrusting their tiny children towards a group of young bucks with antlers. It was incredibly dangerous. Summer brings huge pressure on the park, with many visitors unaware of the rules. Habituating deer to people puts both the animals and the public at risk."
The Royal Parks described such behavior as "highly dangerous" and stated that visitors are exposed to a "real risk of serious injury" by feeding the animals. Warning signs in Richmond Park caution against approaching deer, particularly during mating season in autumn and winter. The Royal Parks urges anyone witnessing people touching the deer to report it to the police.
Richmond Park spans 2,500 acres and is home to ancient trees and herds of deer. In 2025, the Met Police announced plans to disband the Royal Parks Police as part of budget cuts, a move that raised concerns about park safety and management.