THIS is the shocking moment thugs attacked a wild stag by pulling its antlers and hitting its rump.

Police are hunting three men after the cruel assaults were caught on camera at Wollaton Park, in Nottingham.

Disturbing pictures show one thug grabbing the deer’s antlers as the other two watch on and laugh.

More snaps, taken by appalled witness Chris Golightly, reveal the shameless hooligans cheering as they pester the stag and slap it on the back.

The hoodie and tracksuit wearing cowards fled the scene before park rangers could catch them.

Chris estimated there were around seven people in the disgraced group.

The wildlife photographer, in her 60s, said: “I had gone to the park to photograph the deer, as I always do, and I could see from a distance away a deer sitting on its own with people approaching.

“I saw a group of seven men, but three of them got right next to the door.

“They grabbed its antlers, shock its head and slapped the deer on the rump.

“I was too far away to intervene so I rushed to find a ranger to show them my pictures.

“They went after the men but they got away.

“I was horrified at their shocking behaviour.

“It is bullying and an act of cruelty.”

Nottinghamshire Police launched an investigation into the distressing scenes.

The force also issued a fresh appeal urging members of the public to avoid getting too close to the animals.

Langbein Wildlife posted on social media: “Reckless cruelty to stags at Wollaton Park, Nottingham.

“Very sad to see, but thanks to one of our members Chris Golightly for highlighting this, in the hope to deter others from approaching deer so ridiculously closely.

“Stags, exhausted by a long rut, will often rest up placidly in parks at this time as they are too tired to move at each close approach by people, and the last thing they need is to be wantonly disturbed.”

Wollaton Park includes a deer park and Wollaton Hall, an Elizabethan house containing the Nottingham Natural History Museum.

It comes after another attack in February last year, which saw one stag pin a yob to the floor.

The walker was badly injured by its lethal antlers after the deer “had enough” at Wollaton Park.

Horrific footage, taken by Chris once again, shows how the man, dressed in a black puffer coat and a black tracksuit, desperately attempted to fend off the attack by clutching onto the deer’s antlers.

He wrestled with the animal until it used its full force to ram him into the ground and then pushed its antlers straight into his thighs.

“This poor stag had enough,” she told the Mail.

Wollaton Hall and Deer Park, a sprawling 500 acres, is home to two herds of 210 wild deer.

It is one of Nottingham’s most popular attractions, with thousands of visitors each month.

Deer attacks on humans are generally rare, according to The British Deer Society, who state that the relatively docile creatures often avoid proximity with humans.

Meanwhile, a dog walker was previously blasted as “irresponsible” after he was forced to run for his life to escape an angry deer at a Richmond park.

Footage showed how the man let his dog, who was allowed to run around without a lead, berate the deer at Bushy Park.

And, the Met police were forced to post an image of a woman getting attacked by a deer after she attempted to take a close-up photo with the wild animal.

Officers warned Londoners that deer “aren’t like bambi” next to the photo of the lady being booted from behind by the animal.