Royal Parks Police said it had received “concerning” reports over the weekend of people attempting to pull the deer’s antlers, saying some of the reports had been captured on video.

In a statement, it said: “We have received reports of concerning behaviour in Richmond Park over the weekend, where park users have been observed approaching the deer and attempting to remove their antlers.

“Video footage of these incidents has been obtained. We urge anyone who witnesses such behaviour to contact the police by calling 101.”