Park rangers have been forced to remove Highland cows from a nature reserve after visitors ignored warnings to keep their distance amid an unexpected social media surge.
Last month, the rustic cattle, which were found ‘free grazing’ on the Hothfield Heathlands Nature Reserve near Ashford, Kent, skyrocketed to online stardom after going viral.
And amid their newfound fame, Kent Wildlife Trust, which manages the site, urged visitors to keep their distance from the animals as new visitors began ‘actively approaching the animals’.
Meanwhile, animal experts issued a stark warning to those trying to capture a close-up of the cattle, insisting ‘they are not pets’.
Despite stressed guidance, the Highland cows became unsettled as they were unable to sleep or eat without being bothered.
Several TikTok clips showed visitors walking up to the cattle, leaving the path to stand with them as they graze, and even trying to pet them.
Kent Wildlife Trust previously pointed out that these videos often showed the cows in clear signs of distress – shaking their horns as the filming influencers approach.
As such, the trust has since decided to remove the animals to an undisclosed location ‘at least for the time being.’
In a social media post, they said: ‘We’re sad to say we’ve made the decision to remove the cows at Hothfield Heathlands, at least for the time being.
‘After some recent viral posts of people getting up close (and sometimes even touching) the cows, interest in them has exploded.
‘We love that people love our animals, but unfortunately lots of people have been ignoring our 10-metre rule and the pressure on the lovely Highlands has become too much.
‘When under pressure, the cows can become distressed and not carry out their jobs as ecosystem engineers.
‘That’s best case – and worst case, they could start to react out of fear.’
They added: ‘To keep our cows and everybody safe and healthy, we’ve moved the Highlands for now,’ the post continued.
‘This’ll be sad for those of you who love to visit them safely at Hothfield – we can only apologise and hope you understand.’
Ian Rickards, Kent Wildlife Trust area manager, said: ‘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.’
TikTok videos featuring the stunning Highland cows went viral last month, as more than 300,000 videos had hashtags related to the animals.
However, gushing commenters soon translated into a surge of visitors at the nature sanctuary, who disturbed the animals.
Alison Ruyter, wilder grazing lead at the trust, told the Telegraph: ‘People suddenly arrived about four or five weeks ago. We were getting a lot of visitors who were clearly not used to being out in the countryside.
‘People only wanted to get that viral selfie or viral video rather than enjoy the natural landscape.’
Jessica Allam, Senior Wilder Grazing Ranger at Kent Wildlife Trust, previously told the Daily Mail that over 50 cars were filling the small car park at the beginning of March, while a normal weekday might only bring three or four visitors at a time.
While the conservation expert said it had been ‘lovely’ to see so many people taking an interest in nature, the influx of eager fans has also had a downside for the animals.
While the enthusiastic visitors might mean well, wildlife experts warn that the cows don’t appreciate being touched or ‘petted’ under any circumstances.
Ms Allam said: ‘When an animal hasn’t been handled, it is always a shock and quite stressful for them for somebody to suddenly reach out to them.
‘Animals don’t even touch each other unless they’re friends. This is like a stranger walking up to you and trying to pet your head.’
That increased stress doesn’t just disturb the animal in the moment, but also has the risk of creating long-term issues.
Stress can lead to reduced grazing and weight loss, increased risk of injury from running, and increasingly defensive behaviour.
‘They have massive horns, and they know how to use them,’ she said. ‘They’re not quite semi-wild, but they’re pretty much untouched.’
Because Highland cows are so hardy, they spend their entire lives outside and are almost never handled by humans unless they need medical treatment.
‘It can be dangerous, so we ask that people keep a distance of 10 metres or 10 big steps,’ Ms Allam previously said.
Kent Wildlife Trust also asked visitors to refrain from approaching, touching, or feeding the animals and to keep dogs under control on a short lead.
Kent Wildlife Trust is the county’s leading conservation charity, supported by more than 31,000 members and 1,000 volunteers. Hothfield Heathlands is one of 85 nature reserves and sites it manages.
However Ashford was not the only place in England with teeming with Highland cattle, as Petersfield in Hampshire has also become a social media hotspot after the cows were discovered on the beauty spot.
Videos on TikTok – some boasting more than 50,000 likes – show the animals peacefully eating grass and resting as hikers walk past them and soak up the idyllic scenery.
One walker captioned their video: ‘Your sign to visit the Highland cows in Hampshire.’ Another wrote: ‘A wholesome hike you must do before winter is over.’
However, firefighters attempted to deter people from attempting to reach the cattle with three people having to be rescued while taking photos in the nature reserve in January.
Station manager Steve Jenkins said that while social media posts show the Highland cows and panoramic views, they ‘rarely reflect the physical effort or preparation required to reach them’.
‘The terrain can be challenging, especially during winter when poor weather conditions are more frequent and the daylight hours are limited,’ he added. ‘The area is covered in thick gorse, and the wet weather has made the ground very slippery.
‘Without proper preparation, visitors are at risk of slips, falls and hypothermia. We’re glad no-one was harmed during this incident, but it highlights the risks of visiting an exposed downland environment where conditions can change rapidly.’
Mr Jenkins advised visitors of the countryside to check weather conditions, plan a route before heading out and wear appropriate clothing including sturdy footwear.
Meanwhile, another man had to be rescued by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service after climbing a tree in a bid to escape an angry cow while walking his dog through Whiteley Bank.
The man was stuck in the tree for around half an hour until emergency services managed to guide the calf and cow to their respective field.
It is believed he had come across the animal who was thought to be protective over the calf on February 4 of this year.
And selfie warnings are not only being issued for Highland Cows, as droves of selfie-obsessed tourists were seen circling two stags in 2019.
The incident prompted a warning for officials that the majestic animals can be perilous, especially when their mating season, known as rutting, begins.
