• Visitors continue approaching the cows despite warnings
• Cows relocated to a safe area to reduce stress

Kent Wildlife Trust has removed a herd of Highland cows from Hothfield Heathlands in Ashford, Kent, after repeated visitor warnings to keep a safe distance were ignored amid rising interest fueled by a viral TikTok video.

Earlier this month, the trust warned visitors not to approach the cows after the video prompted some people to “actively get close to the animals.”

Interest in the cows “has surged dramatically,” and some visitors kept approaching, with a trust spokesperson saying the pressure on the animals “had become too great.”

In a social media post, the trust announced it had “decided to relocate the cows” to an undisclosed site “at least for now.”

Ian Rickards, Kent Wildlife Trust area manager, said: “The constant pressure affects the animals’ ability to behave naturally. Also, the impact of hundreds of people walking off paths in sensitive habitats damages the wildlife the site is designated to protect.”

Highland cows are known online for their large horns and thick forelock, becoming a favorite farm animal on social media, with over 300,000 TikTok videos tagged with a related hashtag.

At Hothfield Heathlands, the cows had been used to graze grass and help manage the reserve. Visitors had been advised to keep at least 10 meters away, but warnings were repeatedly ignored.

TikTok videos show visitors standing close to the cows and filming them, which can cause stress or fear reactions, a trust spokesperson said.