A stag which has sparked concern among nature lovers has finally cast off its antlers, which had been entangled with blue rope for weeks.
Last month the beast was photographed on the Isle of Lewis with by Morris Macleod, who lives at Newmarket.
Mr Macleod had first spotted the stag in February, before he managed to snap the picture in March amid mounting concern that the predicament could cause the animal injury.
The retired marine consultant was relived on Thursday, when he realised the deer was had lost its antlers and was free of the rope.
He said: “I went out for very early hike and I spotted this stag in the distance watching me.
“He had no antlers and was entirely alone, which is unusual.
“I whistled and waved my walking stick at him as I always do and carried on back home.
“Several hours later I went out again and, lo and behold, the same stag was in exactly the same spot.
“This time I had a close look through the binoculars and recognised him from the markings on his side.
“I walked towards him and he let me get close, then he headed slowly out the moor.
“I followed him for quite some distance and he led me straight to his cast off antlers.
“From the blood stains on the antlers they were cast off within the past few hours.”
