This is the shocking moment a group of yobs assaulted a wild stag by yanking its antlers and slapping its rump.
The unsavoury scenes took place in Wollaton Park, Nottingham, where increasing numbers of ‘deer pestering’ incidents have been reported.
The trio of young men – clad in hoodies, gilets and tracksuit bottoms – were photographed in the act by wildlife photographer Chris Golightly, who was horrified at what she witnessed.
She reported it straight away to a park ranger, but the group ran off before they could be confronted.
In January 2024, another man had a lucky escape when he was rammed to the floor by a stag in the 500-acre park in scenes akin to the famous bull run in Pamplona, Spain.
Ms Golightly, who is aged in her 60s, said: ‘I had gone to the park to photograph the deer, as I always do, and I could see from a distance away a deer sitting on its own with people approaching.
‘I saw a group of seven men, but three of them got right next to the door.
‘They grabbed its antlers, shock its head and slapped the deer on the rump.
‘I was too far away to intervene, so I rushed to find a ranger to show them my pictures.
‘They went after the men, but they got away.
‘I was horrified at their shocking behaviour. It is bullying and an act of cruelty.’
Police are investigating the incident amid renewed calls for members of the public to give the animals space.
Langbein Wildlife posted on social media: ‘Reckless cruelty to stags at Wollaton Park, Nottingham.
‘Very sad to see, but thanks to one of our members Chris Golightly for highlighting this, in the hope to deter others from approaching deer so ridiculously closely.
‘Stags, exhausted by a long rut, will often rest up placidly in parks at this time as they are too tired to move at each close approach by people, and the last thing they need is to be wantonly disturbed.’
Wollaton Park includes a deer park and Wollaton Hall, an Elizabethan house containing the Nottingham Natural History Museum.
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