NARA - Large numbers of deer are appearing in residential neighborhoods around Nara, raising concerns over traffic accidents, crop damage and the spread of ticks and fleas as the animals move farther beyond Nara Park in search of food.
Deer have recently been seen grazing on grass, walking through private properties and crossing roads in quiet neighborhoods about 2 kilometers south of the park, where detached homes and apartment buildings line the streets.
Residents have become accustomed to the animals, but locals say both the number of deer and the frequency of sightings have increased. Some have also appeared near routes used by elementary school students.
Herds have been spotted near JR Nara Station, about 2 kilometers west of Nara Park, showing that the animals are moving into heavily developed parts of the city.
The deer population in Nara Park reached a record 1,465 last year. The increase has been partly attributed to excessive feeding linked to the growth in inbound tourism.
As the population grows, the park's grasslands are no longer providing enough food. Female deer are believed to be leaving the park with their young, while male deer, which naturally tend to move away from groups, may encounter them outside the park.
Experts believe some deer have established new territories and reproduced beyond the park, creating second- and third-generation populations that have never lived within its grounds. Reports suggest deer living outside the park can be more aggressive than those accustomed to visitors inside it.
Nara's deer are designated as a national natural monument, including wild animals outside Nara Park. Prefectural officials and members of deer protection organizations generally respond to reports by approaching herds from behind and driving them back toward the park.
However, reports have increased as deer appear in areas where they were rarely seen before. Officials also say some animals repeatedly leave the park even after being driven back.
The expansion of their habitat is already affecting transportation and agriculture. An express train on the Kintetsu Nara Line struck a deer near Shin-Omiya Station in April.
Farmers have also reported crops being eaten shortly before harvest, while household vegetable gardens have suffered damage.
There are also concerns that fleas and ticks carried by deer could spread beyond Nara Park and increase the risk of infectious disease. When agricultural damage occurs, authorities may impose population limits and cull animals.
Other prefectures are also struggling with rising deer populations. Deer numbers have increased in Osaka Prefecture, while excessive grazing in Shiga Prefecture has been linked to vegetation loss and a subsequent debris flow.
Experts say more precise population management is needed despite the financial cost, along with protective measures coordinated across prefectural borders rather than handled by Nara alone.
People who encounter deer are advised not to approach them, feed them or shout. Authorities are urging residents to observe the animals calmly while measures are developed to allow people and deer to coexist.
Source: YOMIURI
