Shocking moment yobs assault wild stag by pulling its antlers and slapping it on the rump while egged on by their mindless friends
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A group of young people are depicted attacking a wild deer while being cheered on by their foolish friends in a city park.
The shocking footage shows the men pulling the animal’s antlers and hitting it on the torso, with the unsavory scenes taking place in Nottingham’s Wollaton Park.
The trio, dressed in hoodies, vests and track pants, were captured by wildlife photographer Chris Golighty.
Shocked by what she had seen, the photographer immediately reported the incident to a park ranger.
Despite running away before they could be confronted, one of the trio still received some kind of karmic retribution when he was rammed to the ground by the deer after pulling the animal’s antlers.
Ms Golightly, who is in her 60s, said she observed the incident from a distance while trying to catch the deer which was lying alone in the center of the park.
“I saw the group of seven men, but three of them went right next to the deer,” she said.
“They then grabbed it by its antlers, shook its head and hit the deer on the torso. I was shocked by their shocking behavior.”
Wildlife photographer Chris Golightly photographed a group of young people attacking a deer in a park in Nottingham
The boys in tracksuits could be seen grabbing the animal’s antlers
One of the men tried to grab the deer’s antlers and jump on them
One of the men was rammed by the deer after trying to grab its antlers
The man was almost speared to the ground by the angry deer
“It is bullying and an act of animal cruelty,” the photographer added.
Local police are now investigating the incident, amid renewed calls for the public to give the animals space.
Wollaton Park includes a deer park and Wollaton Hall, an Elizabethan house containing the Nottingham Natural History Museum.
Reacting to the incident, Langbein Wildlife posted on social media: ‘Reckless cruelty to deer in Wollaton Park, Nottingham.
‘Very sad to see, but thanks to one of our members Chris Golightly for highlighting this in the hope of deterring others from getting so ridiculously close to deer.
“Deer, exhausted by a long rut, will often rest quietly in parks at this time, as they are too tired to move at any proximity to humans, and the last thing they need is to be deliberately disturbed.”