A new petition launched last week is calling on Royal Parks management to stop the culling of healthy wildlife across London's Royal Parks, not just deer.

The petition has already gained over 1,000 verified signatures and demands that the Royal Parks "reconsider their stance on animal culling of all species" and explore humane alternatives such as wildlife contraception and relocation.

The move follows ongoing criticism of the Royal Parks' deer management programme, which culls around 300 deer each year in Richmond and Bushy Parks. 

Campaigners say the wider scale of culling across other species has remained largely hidden from the public.

Lesley Dove, an animal welfare campaigner who has raised concerns about deer culling for more than 15 years, explained why a new petition was necessary. 

"The new petition is because we can't access the other one due to the organiser going out of contact," she said. 

"But also, because I felt it needed to include not only deer."

Dove argues that many visitors are unaware that the Royal Parks cull animals other than deer, and that this secrecy raises serious questions. 

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"Most people are totally unaware of the large scale of Royal Parks wildlife culling," she said.

"Most are only aware that they cull deer. The new petitioning effort reflects our concern for all animals that they believe they can control by mass killing."

She added that the Royal Parks' culling of species such as squirrels, foxes, rabbits, birds and more is harder to justify to the public than the deer cull.

"Royal Parks tend to keep the other culling quiet from the public which begs the question why," she explained. 

"Is it because they know they cannot easily justify it? While with the deer cull they have convinced many people it's necessary, with other free-living species we believe it's harder for them to make excuses for it."

The petition comes after campaigners highlighted examples of non-lethal wildlife management elsewhere, including the Clifton Deer Program in Cincinnati, Ohio, which uses capture, sterilisation and release to control deer numbers without killing them.

Campaigners say repeated culling can unintentionally increase breeding rates among surviving animals, because food and space become more available to those left behind.

They argue that humane alternatives such as fertility control, habitat-based management and relocation should be seriously considered. 

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In response to previous criticism, the Royal Parks has defended its approach, saying deer welfare is taken "very seriously" and that culling is endorsed by the British Deer Society and the Deer Initiative of England and Wales. 

A Royal Parks spokesperson said culling is necessary to prevent overcrowding, malnutrition and disease in enclosed deer herds, adding that the organisation is under veterinary supervision and actively manages populations to keep them sustainable.

The petition is addressed directly to Royal Parks management, and campaigners say they will continue to push for a formal review of wildlife management and policies across the parks.