Deer a shock sight in Melbourne’s locked-down streets

A deer has stunned locals as it galloped through the locked-down streets of inner Melbourne. See the video.

A deer spotted running amok through Melbourne streets on Saturday sparked a two-hour chase by police and animal welface officers.

The deer swapped wide grassy vistas for the concrete jungle as it went for a weekend adventure in the city.

Stunned motorists watched in disbelief as the deer – frightened, and later discovered to be injured – bounded along main roads.

The drama unfolded about 9am on streets that were eerily quiet due to lockdown.

Drivers making their way into the city saw the deer crossing eight lanes of traffic in Hoddle St.

The deer had the be euthanised Picture: Twitter/@charliecross24

The deer stops traffic as it runs across a Fitzroy street. Picture: Twitter/@charliecross24

Police corner the deer. Picture: Vets For Compassion

The deer is captured. Picture: Vets For Compassion

Victoria Police and Wildlife Victoria began receiving calls from locals who had also spotted the deer.

Animal rescue officers and vets were called in to try to help track down the adventurous animal.

From there a frantic two-hour chase began, with the deer eluding its pursuers.

The deer was soon spotted at the corner of Smith and Johnston streets but managed to stay one step ahead of the chasing pack.

Kim Davis, a rescuer who took part in the operation, told the Sunday Herald Sun: “We would drive to one spot and then get a call to say it had moved. We had to follow his movements until he would stand still.”

The group of 10 rescuers – six police, two wildlife officers armed with dart guns and two vets – finally found the deer in Thornbury at 10.30am.

“We found him hiding in some bushes near the train tracks,” Ms Davis said. “The (deer was) safely darted and we waited until he was sedated.”

Ms Davis said when the vets got to the deer he was in a bad way.

“He had severe injuries to his feet and face; we think he could have been hit,” Ms Davis said. “His feet were injured from running on the road, so he had to be put to sleep.”

Ms Davis said she suspected the wild sambar deer came from the Yarra Bend area.

“There are a lot of wild deer in habitat, and more are ­becoming displaced,” she said. “More development and buildings pushes deer into the street.”