Wild Deer Danger: London Park Visitors Risk Injury

Visitors to Richmond Park, west London, are being strongly advised against interacting with its wild deer population, which has been described as "highly dangerous." Recent footage captured by photographer Amanda Boardman shows adults allowing young children to approach stags, some possessing antlers. Park manager Paul Richards expressed shock and concern, emphasizing the significant risk of serious injury or fatality due to the animals' power and unpredictable nature.

Stags in Richmond Park can weigh more than 25 stone and reach speeds of up to 30 mph, making them a considerable threat if provoked or approached. Richards urged parents and carers to maintain a distance of at least 50 meters from the deer at all times and never to approach them for photos. The park has also seen incidents of people cycling through protected nesting areas and feeding the animals.

These escalating safety concerns have led to renewed calls for the reinstatement of the Royal Parks Police, which were disbanded in November 2025. A spokesperson for the Mayor of London stated that local neighborhood ward officers would assume policing duties, following substantial investment in the Metropolitan Police.