SWNS – A stag made famous on social media has had to be put down after it was fed junk food by hikers.
Callum, described as a “well-known character” in the north-west Scottish Highlands, had to be euthanised after developing health problems.
The animal’s willingness to approach visitors in the car park of Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve and eat from their hands led it to become a popular draw for those on the North Coast 500 route and earned the creature a celebrity status online.
Videos posted on YouTube show Callum being fed croissants and Rice Krispies, as well as healthier snacks such as strawberries and apples.
But after the National Trust for Scotland announced that it had been forced to have Callum put down, locals expressed concern that the stag’s access to snacks was to blame for its deteriorating health.
“The expert vet assessment found that Callum was suffering pain and discomfort as a result of poor body condition, poor coat condition and arthritis.”
They claim that being fed the wrong types of food caused Callum’s teeth to rot and meant it struggled to forage for itself in the colder months.
Iona MacDonald, a Highlands journalist, told the BBC that the stag had to rely on locals to feed it in winter …
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