DW: Are there cow thirst traps?
A cattle farmer in Derbyshire, England, says he has made the difficult decision to crossbreed his Highland cows with a different hill breed to make them less attractive to social media influencers and tourists who keep disturbing the herd for selfies, yoga videos, and TikTok content. Alex Birch, whose family has kept Highland cattle since the 1970s, said the problem at Baslow Edge in the Peak District has escalated for four years and shows no sign of stopping. He described one incident where 30 people with camera flashes pushed the animals toward the edge of a field.
Beyond the animal welfare concerns, Birch said he also worries about liability if someone gets hurt, since Highland cattle can be dangerous, especially around calves. The Peak District National Park Authority has repeatedly warned visitors not to approach or hug cows, calling it "highly dangerous," but Birch says those warnings are being ignored. "It's sad, it's not a decision I wanted to make," he said of the out-breeding plan, noting his grandfather was unhappy but understood.
Source: Oddity Central