A herd of Highland cows has been moved from a nature reserve in Kent after the animals’ popularity on social media caused a dramatic increase in people approaching the creatures and trying to pet them.
Kent Wildlife Trust said the cows at Hothfield Heathlands have been moved to an undisclosed location “for the time being” as interest in them had “exploded”.
Recent posts on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have shown people standing within touching distance of the cows or trying to pet them.
Livestock risk
Visitors were warned to keep a minimum of 10 metres all livestock and not to touch any of the animals on the reserve.
Approaching the animals poses a risk both to them and to visitors, as the animals could become anxious and act out of fear, officials said.
A number of guests have been “ignoring” the guidelines, putting pressure on the cows which has now “become too much”, the charity said on social media.
“When under pressure, the cows can become distressed… and worst case, they could start to react out of fear,” the charity said.
‘Constant pressure’
“The constant pressure will be affecting the animals’ ability to behave naturally. Also, the effect of hundreds of people walking off paths across sensitive habitat will be damaging the wildlife the site is designated for,” said area manager Ian Rickards.
People responded largely with understanding to the news, with one user writing: “We love to see the cows and will miss them but glad you are making them safe.”
The trust manages more than 9,000 acres across 85 sites.
Social media posts have been blamed for encouraging risky behaviour such as “subway surfing” in New York City.
