Campaigners are urging the Royal Parks to reconsider their approach to wildlife management in Bushy and Richmond Parks, calling for non-lethal alternatives to the culling of deer and other animals.

Each year, around 300 deer are culled across the two parks. Critics argue that lethal control is unnecessary and ineffective in the long term, and that proven humane alternatives are being overlooked.

Those opposing the cull point to the Clifton Deer Program in Cincinnati, Ohio, which has been operating since 2015.

The programme uses a capture, spay or neuter and release approach to stabilise deer populations without killing animals.

Supporters say it has successfully controlled numbers while protecting both animal and welfare park ecosystems.

Lesley Dove, an animal welfare campaigner who has raised concerns about deer culling for more than 15 years, believes similar methods should be trialled in London's Royal Parks.

Lesley Dove has raised concerns about deer culling for more than 15 years (Credit: Lesley Dove)

In an exclusive interview with Nub News, she said: "We always get the same answer back. We feel humane options are never seriously given consideration."

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Dove argues that repeated culling can increase breeding rates among surviving animals due to increased availability of food and space.

"When a cull is done, the remaining animals may breed more than otherwise due to increased resources, and more animals come in," she added. "Nature abhors a vacuum."

Dove also questions the influence of the British Deer Society, which the Royal Parks frequently cite when defending their approach.

"The British Deer Society is the mouthpiece of the deer shooters, it is not a voice for the deer, in fact just the opposite," she said.

In response, the Royal Parks said deer welfare is taken "very seriously" and defended its current management practices.

A Royal Parks spokesperson said: "As a member of the British Deer Society, The Royal Parks takes deer welfare very seriously and all aspects of their welfare are monitored regularly. In addition, both the society and the Deer Initiative of England and Wales fully endorse humane culling.

"The Royal Parks is an expert manager of enclosed deer herds, which are under veterinary supervision. Deer populations are actively managed to keep herds at a sustainable size and to prevent overcrowding.

"Without population control, food would become scarce, and more animals would ultimately suffer. There would also be other 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 in deer."

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Campaigners are calling for non-lethal alternatives to the culling of deer and other animals in Richmond and Bushy Parks (Credit: Lesley Dove)

The Royal Parks added that further information about deer management is available on its website.

Campaigners say their concerns extend beyond deer. Freedom of Information requests submitted in recent years suggest that nearly 7,000 animals were killed across the Royal Parks over a period of just over five years.

Species include deer, squirrels, foxes, rabbits, rats and birds such as pigeons, crows, magpies, geese and parakeets.

Natalia Doran, who runs the registered charity Urban Squirrels, says squirrel culling in open urban parks is particularly ineffective.

Urban Squirrels is a wildlife rescue unit that specialises in grey squirrels (Credit: Natalie Doran/Urban Squirrels)

"Culling in an area where squirrels move in and our is pointless - they migrate," she said. "They kill them and more come in from neighbouring areas almost instantly. So, it's constant killing and it's terribly cruel."

Doran explained that repeated culling can actually lead to younger populations that breed more frequently, leaving overall numbers unchanged.

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She added that many park visitors and unaware that healthy animals are routinely killed.

"People love feeding them. They're very sociable little animals, they're loved by tourists and locals," she said.

"People love them and when they hear about it, they're horrified, and they can't enjoy the park in the same way."

Both Dove and Doran argue that non-lethal alternatives, including fertility control and habitat-based management, deserve serious consideration.

They say campaigners have repeatedly offered to share evidence and expertise but feel these approaches are constantly dismissed.