A female deer died after being mauled by a dog in Richmond Park yesterday (8 September).

Witnesses saw a fallow doe being attacked by a Belgian/German Shepherd cross at around 7.10pm.

The doe was left unable to move after the attack and groundskeepers searched for her for an hour.

She was found in the long grass and had to be put down due to her injuries.

Police are now appealing on social media for the owner of the dog to contact them on [email protected].

The Belgian/German Shepherd cross is described as being 25kg with a lean body condition, short sandy coat and wearing a black harness.

Dog attacks in Richmond Park

Dog attacks in the Royal Parks have become more common over the pandemic, police said in January this year.

The force warned dog owners to be vigilant after a red setter savaged a deer in Richmond Park.

The shocking incident was captured on camera and prompted an outcry from the public.

In April, another attack left a nine-year-old girl and her mother with severe wounds.

The pair had been in Bushy Park on an Easter Egg hunt.

Dog leads were then made compulsory in the parks during birthing season over June, July and August.

The Royal Parks said: "Deer are instinctively frightened of dogs and this fear has not been helped by recent events."

Now it is rutting season in the parks the charity are urging dog owners to be extra vigilant.

Male deer will be competing with each other for status and females over the next three months.

This will put them on edge even if the dog is not behaving aggressively.

The Parks say: "Visitors to Bushy and Richmond Parks are advised to walk their dogs outside the parks during this period.

"If visitors choose not to follow this advice, they should ensure dogs are on a lead at all times and consider an alternative route which follows the wall line of the park, where they are close to exit gates."

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