Video shows the moment a deer was spotted practicing football alongside the River Thames.
The lone deer expertly pushed a ball across the water with its nose and antlers at Bushy Park in Richmond-upon-Thames.
Katie O’Lone shot the video while walking through the park in south-west London after attending nursery school. She claims the animal had “football fever”.
Around 320 red and fallow deer roam freely in Bushy Park, but so far only these have shown some serious football skills.
A deer has been spotted at football practice by the River Thames in Bushy Park
The lone deer expertly pushed a ball across the water with its nose and antlers at Bushy Park in Richmond-upon-Thames
“The deer often wallow in the river at Bushy Park in the early evening, but today they seemed to have football fever.
“I saw it coming back from the nursery – light entertainment before bed.”
According to The Royal Parks, Bushy Park is a so-called wildlife park. This means that red deer and fallow deer roam freely through the area, just as they did when Henry VIII hunted here.
The flocks are kept outside Woodland Gardens and other protected plantations.
Park officials say it is important to graze deer throughout the area to maintain the “high wildlife value of the park’s grasslands.”
Grazing is said to provide “more variation in structure and plant diversity” than mowing and does not harm anthills.
Katie O’Lone shot the video while walking through the park in south-west London after attending nursery school. She claims the animal had “football fever”.
Around 320 red and fallow deer roam freely in Bushy Park, but so far only these have shown some serious football skills
Red deer are the largest mammal native to the British Isles and have a shiny red coat in summer.
Fallow deer are smaller than red deer and their summer coat varies from cream to dark brown.
The Royal Parks reminds park visitors that “deer are wild animals” and walkers should keep at least 50 meters away from them.
Park visitors should also pay attention to their surroundings so they don’t come between two bucking deer or a mother with her calves.
Calves are usually born between May and July. They are “very vulnerable” and mother goats will be extra vigilant when defending their young.
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
