A team of wildlife heroes raced against time to save a panicked fallow buck after it became hopelessly tangled in electric fencing at a local stable.
The dramatic rescue unfolded on Wednesday (2 November) when a young woman, tending to her horses at dawn, spotted the large deer thrashing about in the paddock – its antlers wrapped tight in lengths of discarded wire.
“Despite efforts to approach the distressed deer, nobody at the stables could get near him,” a spokesperson for the Wildlife Rescue group at Moyles Court in Ringwood, Hampshire, told What’s The Jam.
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“When we were called, a dispatcher had already been informed and was on his way to shoot him, so time was absolutely crucial.”
The rescuers leapt into action – and thankfully made it there just in time.
Their Deer Rescue Team leader quickly assessed the scene.
They said: “The buck was tied fast by his antlers and leaping about in dense, high stinging nettles – not ideal.”
Working with lightning speed, the team leader used a nearby tree as an anchor, looping the fencing cable around a branch to slowly limit the terrified animal’s movement.
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The rescuer said, “As soon as the deer fell to the ground and we had enough control, the team moved in and secured him.”
It was obvious the poor creature had been trapped for a while, as the wire was tightly twisted several times around his impressive antlers.
Carefully keeping his hind legs off the ground, the team worked methodically to free the fencing first from around his neck, then from between his antlers.
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After several tense minutes, the exhausted buck was finally free.
The team added: “Once he was completely free, we aimed him away from the road and let him go.”
The majestic animal bounded off into nearby woodland – shaken but safe.
News of the dramatic rescue quickly spread online, with animal lovers full of praise.
One person wrote: “How amazing you are. Thank you.”
Another added: “Absolutely amazing, well done guys for saving this beautiful animal.”
A third said: “Fantastic.. Thank goodness for you.
“Super work, rescue team.”
“So pleased to hear this had a happy ending. Well done, all,” commented another.
And one relieved reader summed it up perfectly: “So glad you got there first.”
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