Highland cows are forced to go into hiding after surge in Instagram-obsessed visitors trying to ‘get that viral selfie’

Park rangers have been forced to remove cows from a Highland nature reserve after visitors ignored warnings to keep their distance following an unexpected surge on social media.

Last month, rustic cattle spotted ‘free grazing’ at Hothfield Heathlands Nature Reserve near Ashford, Kent, rocketed to online stardom after going viral.

Kent Wildlife Trust, which manages the site, appealed to visitors to stay away from the animals as new visitors began to “actively approach the animals” following their newfound fame.

Meanwhile, animal experts have issued a stern warning to anyone trying to film the cattle up close, insisting “they are not pets”.

Despite the stressful guidance, the Highland cows became restless, unable to sleep or eat undisturbed.

Several TikTok clips showed visitors walking up to the cattle, leaving the road to stand with them as they graze, and even trying to pet them.

Kent Wildlife Trust has previously stated that the cows in these videos often show signs of distress, waving their horns as the filming influencers approach.

Therefore, the foundation decided to move the animals to an undisclosed location ‘at least for now’.

Wildlife experts have previously urged visitors to stay away from the herd of Highland cows in Ashford, Kent, despite an influx of TikTok users descending on the site.

Park rangers were forced to remove Highland cows from a nature reserve after visitors ignored warnings to keep their distance amid unexpected social media attention.

In a social media post they said: ‘We are sorry to say that we have made the decision to remove cows from Hothfield Heathlands, at least for now.

‘Interest in cows has exploded after recent viral posts showing people approaching (and sometimes even touching) cows.

‘We love when people love our animals, but unfortunately many people ignore our 10 meter rule and the pressure on the beautiful Highlands has become too much.

‘When cows are under pressure, they can become stressed and unable to fulfill their duties as ecosystem engineers.

‘This is at best the case, and at worst they may start reacting out of fear.’

The post continued: ‘We have moved Highlands for now to keep our cows and everyone safe and healthy.’

‘This will be sad for those who like to visit them safely in Hothfield; We can only apologize and hope you will understand.’

Ian Rickards, regional manager at Kent Wildlife Trust, said: ‘Continued pressure will affect animals’ ability to behave naturally.

‘In addition, the movement of hundreds of people off roads in sensitive habitats will harm the wildlife for which the area is targeted.’

TikTok videos featuring stunning Highland cows went viral last month, with animal-related hashtags found in more than 300,000 videos.

However, gushing commentators soon turned into an influx of animal-disturbing visitors to the nature reserve.

Alison Ruyter, who runs the trust, told the Telegraph: ‘People suddenly arrived four or five weeks ago. We were getting a lot of visitors who were clearly not used to being in the countryside.

‘People just wanted to take that viral selfie or viral video instead of enjoying the natural scenery.’

Jessica Allam, Senior Wilder Range Ranger at Kent Wildlife Trust, previously told the Daily Mail: More than 50 cars filled Arriving at the small parking lot in early March, on a normal weekday there might only be three or four visitors at a time.

While the conservationist said it was ‘nice’ to see so many people taking an interest in nature, the influx of eager fans has also had a negative impact on the animals.

Despite the stressful guidance, the Highland cattle became restless as they could not sleep or eat undisturbed

While enthusiastic visitors may be well-intentioned, wildlife experts warn that cows do not like to be touched or ‘tamed’ under any circumstances.

Ms Allam said: ‘When an animal has been untouched it is always a shock and quite stressful for them when someone suddenly reaches out to them.

‘Animals don’t even touch each other unless they are friends. ‘It’s like a stranger coming up to you and trying to caress your head.’

Increased stress not only makes the animal uncomfortable in the moment, but also risks creating long-term problems.

Stress can lead to decreased grazing and weight loss, increased risk of injury from running, and increased defensive behavior.

‘They have huge horns and they know how to use them,’ he said. ‘They’re not quite half-wild, but they’re pretty much untouched.’

Because highland cows are so hardy, they spend their entire lives outdoors and are almost never handled by humans unless they need medical treatment.

“It could be dangerous, so we’re asking people to keep a distance of 10 metres, or 10 big steps,” Ms Allam had previously said.

Kent Wildlife Trust also asked visitors to avoid approaching, touching or feeding the animals and to keep dogs under control for short periods.

Kent Wildlife Trust is the country’s leading conservation charity, supported by more than 31,000 members and 1,000 volunteers. Hothfield Heathlands is one of 85 nature reserves and areas it manages.

But Ashford wasn’t the only place in England teeming with Highland cattle; Petersfield in Hampshire has become a social media hotspot after cows were discovered at the beauty spot.

Videos on TikTok (some boasting more than 50,000 likes) show the animals eating grass and resting peacefully as hikers pass by and enjoy the idyllic scenery.

One walker captioned the video: ‘Your signpost to visit the Highland cows in Hampshire.’ Another wrote: ‘A healthy walk you need to do before winter is over.’

But firefighters have tried to deter people from trying to reach the cattle, with three people rescued while taking photos at the nature reserve in January.

Station manager Steve Jenkins said that while social media posts showed Highland cows and panoramic views they ‘rarely reflect the physical effort or preparation required to reach them’.

‘The terrain can be particularly challenging during the winter months when bad weather is more frequent and 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 risk slips, falls and hypothermia. ‘We are pleased no one was harmed during this incident, but it highlights the risks of visiting an exposed downstream environment where conditions can change rapidly.’

Mr Jenkins advised rural visitors to check weather conditions, plan a route before heading out and wear appropriate clothing, including sturdy shoes.