Richmond Park’s deer culls often cause controversy; deer populations are growing rapidly, yet so are concerns as to whether the killing of deer is really the right thing to do. Activists have been protesting over the last month against the cull, which started at the beginning of February and is set to take seven weeks.

 

Firstly, why are they protesting? Deer, being a prey species, grow in population more quickly than otherwise necessary to make up for members being lost to predators. However since those in Richmond Park do not have to deal with natural predators, humans have been managing the population to prevent overpopulation and herds becoming unsustainably large. However, protestors have argued that an alternative to killing could be used, many suggesting contraception. Members of ‘Stop the Wildlife Cull,’ protesting outside Richmond Park earlier this month, reference an example of successful neutering in the USA to support their argument.

 

However there are two sides to every story – the British Deer Society argues that the culls are humane, performed by professionals, and necessary. It and the Deer Initiative of England and Wales agree that culling is the most effective course of action, and that it even improves the welfare of many deer through the prevention of food scarcity and overcrowding. The Royal Parks claims not to profit from the culling, only performing it for the benefit of the park’s deer. It also claims that contraception is not a valid option: the handling of deer would cause stress, making injections difficult; several methods of contraception would require the identification of deer, which simply would not be possible; and other (hormonal) contraceptives would cause damage to the habitat and negatively impact the deer through the hormones used.

 

In conclusion, despite the perception by some that it is unnecessarily cruel, the culling of Richmond Park’s deer does appear to be a necessary method which is carried out as humanely as possible. On top of being likely the most effective method of population control (which is clearly required) without the difficulties and adverse effects of contraception, its main alternative, the culls are arguably the right course of action. However if a more effective, sustainable alternative is found, its implementation could hopefully provide a kinder method of population control to the outright killing currently taking place.