A herd of highland cows has been removed from a nature reserve after warnings to visitors drawn in by a social media-driven surge in interest were ignored, a wildlife trust has said.
Earlier this month, Kent Wildlife Trust urged visitors to Hothfield Heathlands nature reserve, in Ashford, Kent, to keep their distance from the cows after a viral TikTok video led to people "actively approaching the animals".
But interest in the animals "has exploded" and people have been continuing to get too close to them, with a spokesperson for the trust saying the pressure on the cows "has become too much".
In a social media post, the trust said it had "made the decision to remove the cows" to an undisclosed location "at least for the time being".
Ian Rickards, Kent Wildlife Trust area manager, said: "The constant pressure will be affecting the animals' ability to behave naturally.
