Donal Hickey: We should observe our wildlife without disturbing them

Josh van der Flier, Alex Mitchell and Joe McCarthy say hello to some kangaroos in Australia. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Photographs in this newspaper, on June 27, showed British and Irish Lions rugby players standing just a few paces from kangaroos at a golf course, in Perth, Australia.

The kangaroos may have been relatively tame and seen as harmless, but wildlife organisations regularly warn people never to take the behaviour of wild animals for granted.

Our National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) says getting too near can cause stress to such animals, which may see humans as a threat, potentially leading them to flee, or become aggressive.

Children, especially, are drawn almost irresistibly to animals and, with the holiday season moving into top gear, many now have opportunities to get close, and even touch a variety of creatures.

A few years ago, a deer, which frequented the Ross Castle tourist magnet in Killarney National Park, seemed to enjoy being petted by children and adults who often posed with it for ‘selfies’.

And a resident deer herd in nearby Killarney Golf Club seems to have lost fear of humans and players can come really close.

Visitors to Killarney National Park have been advised to stay at least 50 metres from deer. Picture: Valerie O'Sullivan/free pic

Recently, a sign was erected at an entrance to Killarney National Park advising people to stay at least 50 metres from deer; to be alert; not to feed, or touch, the deer, and not to photograph them at close range.

“It is dangerous to approach the deer at any time, particularly during May, June and July when the females are protecting their young and during the September and October mating season,’’ it warned.

Feeding and touching the deer is banned and people should not give them inappropriate food that can seriously harm, or even kill them Also, wild animals can have diseases harmful to humans. Deer, for example, are carriers of ticks which can transmit Lyme disease, and close contact with animals obviously increases transmission risks.

People are advised to use binoculars, or a zoom lens, to observe wildlife without disturbing them.

Foxes now come very close to humans. One in Killarney Golf Club trots right up to players, clearly looking for food, and is known to make off with golf balls. A couple of years ago, I saw a fox moving freely around the Lee Valley golf course, in Cork, with easy familiarity.

In days long ago, a farming grandmother would urge us to ‘never trust an animal’: I’ve witnessed the wisdom and veracity of her advice many times.

Cows are generally docile, gentle animals, though they can be dangerous when they have calves, with a protective instinct kicking in.

In such situations, there have been several reports of cows attacking farmers, even though the farmers would have been well known to them.

Be careful out there…