OSAKA - A deer believed to have wandered from Nara Park into Osaka was finally captured on March 26th after several days of roaming city streets, bringing an end to a widely followed incident that had raised concerns over public safety and animal welfare.
The deer was surrounded by a large number of police officers and Osaka city staff, who used shields to carefully guide it into a confined space. After being lured with food and gradually cornered, the animal was successfully captured shortly after 1 p.m. and placed into a transport vehicle.
The deer had been tracked since around March 17th, when it was first spotted after apparently crossing over the Ikoma mountain range into Higashiosaka, a considerable distance from Nara. It later moved into Osaka city, where it was seen resting in parks before resuming movement the following evening. At times, it wandered across busy roads, creating dangerous situations in which it narrowly avoided being struck by vehicles.
On the night before its capture, the deer was found inside a police-related facility in Osaka’s Joto Ward, having entered the premises on its own. The following morning, it appeared calm and even drowsy as officers monitored it, while authorities quietly prepared for a safe capture operation.
After being secured, the deer was transported by vehicle, though its final destination remains undecided. Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama stated that euthanasia is not being considered, emphasizing that the priority is to provide a safe environment until a suitable facility is arranged, with temporary care to be provided at an animal management center within the city.
Meanwhile, Nara Governor Makoto Yamashita indicated that while the deer may have originated from Nara Park, the prefecture does not intend to accept it back, describing such animals as wild rather than protected cultural assets once they leave the park.
The situation has also sparked debate over how such cases should be handled, with some arguing that the classification of Nara’s deer as natural monuments leaves room for interpretation, even outside the prefecture. Critics have pointed to a lack of coordination between Osaka and Nara authorities, calling for clearer rules and quicker political decision-making in similar incidents.
The case drew national attention after being widely reported and broadcast live from the moment of its initial sighting, highlighting both the challenges of managing wildlife in urban areas and the complexities of administrative responsibility.
Source: KTV NEWS
