Hunt for gunman as rare white stag shot with rifle and 'suffered' before dying

08 March 2023 , 10:29

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The white stag was found dead in Cobham Woods (file image) (Image: Getty Images/EyeEm)

Police are searching for a gunman after a rare white stag was shot dead with a high velocity rifle in a woodland area near Kent.

Officers from the Kent Police Rural Task Force are investigating the incident after the male deer was found dead in Cobham Woods, near Gravesend, Kent on February 26.

Police said it was the second deer found dead at the beauty spot in a matter of weeks.

The first animal was reported dead on January 20.

Both animals had sustained gunshot wounds to their face, which officers believe was caused by a high-powered rifle.

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A Kent Police spokesman said: "While the location is remote, police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incidents, which are believed to have happened at night".

Mill Hill in Cobham Woods (Dudley Miles /Wikipedia)

He also urged anyone who might have information about people or vehicles seen near the area on or near the dates of the incidents, to get in touch with police.

Rural Crime Co-Ordinator Douglas Robertson of Kent Police added: "The evidence from these two deer attacks would indicate that no other animals were used to hunt them and that they have been shot.

"The manner in which they were shot would have caused a significant amount of suffering to the animals and the use of a powerful firearm in a location accessible to the public presents a high risk to any other person in the area.

"We are working closely with partner agencies to identify those responsible. Anyone with information is urged to get in touch with us so we can investigate and hold those responsible to account."

Anyone with information should call the north Kent appeal line on 01474 366149, quoting 26-0273.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or by using the online form on their website.

The British Deer Society states that most white deer are usually fallow, a species that is widely distributed across much of the UK and for which white is a recognised colour variety.

However, white fallow are not seen as often as the other three main colour types of common, menil and black.

The society adds that white colourations have also been noted in other deer species in the UK.

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True albino deer have also been recorded but sightings are extremely rare.

Adam Gillham