Questions in village after stags’ deaths

Astag who was a much-loved visitor to an Argyll community has been found dead, according to locals.

“Stanley”, who was often spotted in Bonawe, was found under a bush in the town and appears to have died from natural causes, starvation or daffodil bulb poisoning.

Initially the decapitated body of another deer was found outside a home earlier this month, was assumed by members of the community to be Stanley.

A campaign was even launched to pay for a memorial statue.

Police, who inspected that carcase, found the animal had been shot then beheaded.

It was only after the discovery of the second stag’s body that local people realised the decapitated beast was unlikely to be their wellknown visitor.

Local Sian Griffiths made the grim find while checking on a neighbour’s unoccupied second home, after noticing a “putrid smell”.

She said: “We look after some second homes around Bonawe. My husband went to make some checks and thought ‘what’s that smell?’

“He went into the garden and there in a bush was a dead deer. We then checked with a local man who knew Stanley and had photographs of him.

“We matched the antler shape of the dead deer with the photographs and we can confirm it was the same deer.

“We have informed the police of our discovery.”

Asked what she thought had killed the deer, Mrs Griffiths said: “It is very likely that he died of natural causes, or lack of food as he was thin and emaciated.”

Oban, North and Lorn councillor Julie McKenzie, behind whose home the first deer was discovered, is now calling for a public meeting with the nearby estate to hear about their deer management plan.

She said: “Police Scotland have advised me that so far it cannot be evidenced whether Stanley is alive or dead.

“What is certain is that the killing of allegedly malnourished deer in such close proximity to a residential area remains a very live concern for the people who live here.

“The responsibility for the ground surrounding the village lies with The Argyll Estates Office and I have been advised by their office that a deer management plan is in place.

“At present, residents have no information on this plan.”

She added that she has asked for the matter to be raised at next month’s Ardchattan Community Council meeting.

“This would allow concerned local residents to be afforded the opportunity for open and transparent discussion with The Argyll Estates Office, Police Scotland and community councillors, so that the issue can hopefully be resolved.”

POPULAR: The body of a stag, which locals have identified as Stanley, has been found.