The Richmond Park annual deer cull​

An average of 230 wild deer are culled in Richmond Park every year, a freedom of information request has revealed. 

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Between 2011 and 2016, an average of 230 deer were affected by the cull annually- 104 male and 126 female.

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Approximately 36.5% of the population of deer in Richmond Park are culled each year.

Emma Rigby, a Royal Parks spokesman said: “Without population control, food would become scarce and animals would ultimately suffer.

 

“The culled meat is sold to licensed game dealers and all money is reinvested into caring for our herds. It must be stressed we do not undertake commercial deer farming, and as such the meat is not labelled as Royal Parks when it is sold to the consumer.

 

“Without culling, there would be welfare issues such as low body fat, malnutrition, high incidence of death from exposure to cold in winter and a build-up of parasites and diseases.”

 

Richmond Park in south-west London is a National Nature Reserve which covers an area of 2,500 acres and is one of eight parks overseen by The Royal Parks charity. The Park’s open spaces and grasslands make it an ideal habitat for Red and Fallow deer- 630 of which have been roaming freely in the park since 1637. 

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As a member of the British Deer Society, the welfare of these animals is a priority of the Park. In order to manage population sizes, the deer cannot be administered with oral contraceptives because such chemicals could contaminate the habitat for other species.

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Wild deer also cannot be rounded up to administer contraceptive injections without causing significant distress or injury, and darting deer with hormones is not feasible as it is impossible to identify each deer to ensure single dosing.

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The population is managed through the process of culling, which takes place every year in autumn and late winter.