Litter from cyclists' gel packs is harming deer

Cyclists have been accused of dropping gel packs that could be lethal to the famed wild deer of Richmond Park, in London. 

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Park conservationists warned that 161 empty gel packs used by competitors of the London Duathlon were found after litter pickers cleaned the course route. 

The packs were left despite signs installed around the course that urged cyclists to take the litter with them. 

Gel packs and their tear-off opening strips are dangerous for deer as the strips get hidden in the grass and could clog deers' digestive systems once mistakenly eaten.

Image: Friends of Richmond Park

Earlier this summer, another event - Ride London - saw similar results, with 182 gel packs found in the same section of the park. 

It's estimated that litter kills about five deer a year in Richmond Park, which is renowned for its herd of grazing wild red and fallow deer.    

A picture released by Friends of Richmond Park shows a deer with litter stuck around its neck. Another depicts one of the Park's wildlife officers holding up the stomach contents of two deer that died from litter. 

Image: FRIENDS OF RICHMOND PARK

Image: FRIENDS OF RICHMOND PARK

“Following a similar survey after this year's event, the organisers of Ride London are committing to much greater prevention measures to ensure offending competitors are spotted littering and either disqualified or banned from participating," Friends' chairman Ron Crompton said in a statement. 

“We do hope that the Duathlon organisers will adopt a similar approach and ensure that all competitors are clear that this sort of behaviour is unacceptable.

“Finding this large extent of litter 24 hours after the event is very worrying for the Park's wildlife and particularly the deer.”