The Royal Parks said it was "shocked" and "extremely concerned" by footage showing a group of people standing dangerously close to deer in Richmond Park.
Video footage, published on social media over the weekend, appears to show adults encouraging children to stroke the antlers of grazing stags and their young.
Park authorities have condemned the behaviour as “deeply irresponsible” and “highly dangerous”, warning that it could lead to a tragic or even fatal accident.
A spokesperson for the Royal Parks said: “This deeply irresponsible and highly dangerous behaviour will cause the deer stress and create a serious risk of a tragic accident resulting in life-changing injuries or, in the worst case, a fatal incident.”
Park Manager Paul Richards has stressed that while the red and fallow deer may appear calm, they are wild and unpredictable.
Of course we don’t need Park Police 🙄🤦♀️
— Amanda Boardman (@Mandsby) July 12, 2026
I’ve never seen it this bad! Education matters, but it doesn’t stop e-bikes tearing up the Skylark protection area, chasing / herding deer.
Education then enforcement. Bring back Park Police! @theroyalparks #richmondpark @MayorofLondon pic.twitter.com/5rnM1Qi2B6
Stags can weigh over 25 stone or 160kg and reach speeds of up to 30mph. They are powerful animals capable of causing serious injuries.
Visitors are told to maintain at least a 50-metre distance from the deer, which roam freely around the Park, at all times.
Extra caution is needed especially during birthing season (between May and July) when mothers become extremely protective of their fawns and rutting season (between September and November) when stags clash and are highly aggressive.
“We urge parents and carers to keep children well away from the deer at all times and never allow them to approach or interact with the animals,” the strongly-worded statement reads.
“Visitors should always stay at least 50 metres away - or further if the deer are moving - and never approach them for photographs or selfies.
“The deer are one of the park's most iconic and valued features. But please - keep yourself, your families, and others safe, by giving deer the space they need.”
Despite the warnings, incidents of people flouting the rules has become a serious issue in recent years, with locals calling for the Parks Police to be brought back.
The Metropolitan Police’s dedicated Royal Parks Police unit was officially disbanded in October 2025 to help address a £260 million funding shortfall.
Similar issues have been reported in Bushy Park, where visitors have touched resting deer, causing stags to charge at them in defence.
Publishing the footage, photographer Amanda Boardman said: “We need our park police back it shouldn’t fall on the park to have to raise additional funds to police this. They are not the police.”
Responding to the footage, one person wrote: “This grinds my gears. I had to verbally tell two people to move away from the deer a few weeks ago.
“We need more park rangers in Richmond. They need to drum home to the public that you are meant to stay at least 50 meters away from them. Thank you for posting this.”
