A stag has been shot dead in Richmond Park after injuring a man in his 60s who was enjoying a picnic when the animal approached the group searching for food.
The incident happened on Saturday afternoon, with emergency services called to the south-west London park at around 6pm.
The injured man was taken to hospital with chest injuries that were later described as not life-threatening.
The Royal Parks said the decision to kill the animal was made because its behaviour meant it was considered a danger to visitors.
Officials believe feeding may have changed the deer’s behaviour
According to The Royal Parks, the stag may have become accustomed to people providing food, causing it to lose some of its natural caution around humans.
The organisation said the animal approached the picnic group while apparently looking for something to eat.
It warned that repeated feeding can encourage deer to associate visitors with food, increasing the likelihood of potentially dangerous encounters.
The picnic was reportedly taking place close to the Roehampton Gate Cafe, a popular area for visitors to the park.
Visitors warned to keep their distance
The incident has renewed warnings from The Royal Parks about the dangers of approaching Richmond Park’s wild deer.
Visitors are advised to remain at least 50 metres away from the animals and are told never to feed, touch or deliberately approach them.
If a deer comes towards a person, officials recommend putting food and packaging out of sight and slowly moving away rather than attempting to interact with the animal.
The Royal Parks said that if visitors follow the guidance and avoid interfering with the deer, encounters of this kind are highly unlikely.
Footage showed visitors getting dangerously close
The latest incident comes after concerns were raised over footage showing members of the public feeding and touching deer in Richmond Park and nearby Bushy Park.
Videos shared during the summer appeared to show adults allowing children to approach young bucks, while other visitors were seen feeding the animals and attempting to touch them.
Amanda Boardman, a regular visitor to Richmond Park, said she had never seen visitor behaviour around the deer become so concerning.
She described seeing people riding bikes through a protected skylark nesting area while apparently herding deer, as well as adults bringing young children extremely close to bucks with antlers.
She said the behaviour was particularly dangerous during the busy summer period, when large numbers of visitors may be unfamiliar with the park’s rules.
The Royal Parks condemns feeding and touching deer
The Royal Parks previously expressed its shock at footage showing adults and children interacting directly with the animals.
In one video, an adult appeared to guide a young boy’s hand towards a deer’s head so the child could touch it.
Another scene showed a girl feeding a deer while a woman filmed nearby.
The organisation described such behaviour as highly dangerous, warning that visitors face a real risk of serious injury when they feed or approach the animals.
Warning signs around Richmond Park also highlight the need to keep away from deer, particularly during the mating season, which generally occurs during autumn and winter.
Officials have urged visitors who see people touching or interfering with the city’s deer to report the behaviour to police.
Richmond Park’s deer are wild animals
Richmond Park covers around 2,500 acres and is one of London’s eight Royal Parks. It is known for its ancient trees, open landscapes, deer herds and the Isabella Plantation.
Despite their familiarity to regular parkgoers, the deer remain wild animals capable of causing serious injuries, particularly when they feel threatened or become accustomed to approaching humans for food.
The latest incident demonstrates the potential consequences of changing the animals’ natural behaviour through repeated human interaction.
Concerns remain over park policing
Questions about safety in the Royal Parks have also previously been linked to changes in policing arrangements.
In 2025, the Metropolitan Police announced plans to disband the Royal Parks Police as part of wider cuts linked to a reported £260 million budget shortfall.
Gareth Roberts, leader of Richmond Council, criticised the decision at the time, arguing that the specialist police team played an important role in enforcing park regulations, responding to incidents and keeping visitors safe.
He warned that removing the dedicated unit would place additional pressure on local policing resources and could leave the parks less protected.
