A dog owner whose pet was filmed chasing and fatally attacking a deer in Richmond Park is being sought by police.
The dog, which appears to be a spaniel-type breed, was seen chasing a deer through the trees and across the road in footage posted by the Met Police on X.
“We would like to speak to the dog owner in relation to a fatal attack on a deer in Richmond Park yesterday at about 12:30pm near to Sheen Cross,” the force said.
It is illegal to allow dogs to chase deer.
More than 600 red and fallow deer live in Richmond Park, which is a national nature reserve.
The Royal Parks website says it is alerted to a number of incidents “every year” involving dogs chasing deer.
“As well as causing extreme stress to the deer, this can also result in a stampede, or in the deer running across the road and into oncoming traffic to escape,” it says.
“Owners of dogs who chase wildlife in the Parks could face criminal prosecution.”