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Increased tourist numbers in Nara Park are affecting size of its deer population

14 Comments
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24

The biggest attraction in the city of Nara is Nara Park, and the star attraction of Nara Park is the deer. Due to their association with Kasuga-taisha, a Shinto shrine located inside the park, the deer are allowed to roam free and mingle with human visitors, and even those not deeply aware of their cultural significance can instantly recognize that they’re really cute.

But just how many deer are there in Nara Park? That’s a question the Nara Deer Preservation Foundation asks annually. This month the animal welfare organization carried out its deer population survey, with 73 of its members walking Nara Park in July 15 and 16 to perform a head count. Over the two days, the team visually confirmed 1,325 deer, 92 more than they spotted in 2023. In terms of deer demographic distribution, the foundation counted 313 stags, 798 does, and 214 fawns, all of which were up from last year (by respective margins of 27, 28, and 37).

This marks the third year in a row for an increase in Nara Park’s deer population, but not necessarily because of breeding amongst the bushes. Instead, the Nara Deer Preservation Foundation is attributing the increase in the park’s deer to an increase in the park’s tourists, saying “With the pandemic over, sightseers have returned to the park, and there is an increase in the number of deer coming to the park to get deer crackers from tourists.”

▼ Deer crackers, called shika senbei in Japanese, are sold by vendors inside the park for visitors to feed to the animals as snacks.

Screenshot-2024-07-22-at-10.25.45.png
Image: SoraNews24

The Nara Deer Preservation Foundation also announced that there are 268 deer living within the organization’s fenced facility where deer which have caused agricultural or other kinds of damage are sent as an alternative to culling. This is the fourth consecutive annual decrease, which the foundation says is a result of fewer destructive deer being caught.

Source: Mainichi News via Livedoor News via Jin

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Nara deer “addicted” to rice crackers, lose weight with no tourists to feed them

-- Deer in Nara Park outnumber visitors, display baffling summer gathering behaviour

-- Nara considering increasing number of deer that can be killed each year, expanding culling zone

© SoraNews24

©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.

14 Comments
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the foundation counted 313 stags, 798 does, and 214 fawns, all of which were up from last year (by respective margins of 27, 28, and 37).

So two does for each stag, and they try to explain that it's not because of this that the numbers are increasing?

 but not necessarily because of breeding amongst the bushes. Instead, the Nara Deer Preservation Foundation is attributing the increase in the park’s deer to an increase in the park’s tourists,

Yeah right, blame the tourists. Here's an idea, start charging double for the crackers and people will quit buying them, and let nature take it's course.

The Nara Deer Preservation Foundation also announced that there are 268 deer living within the organization’s fenced facility where deer which have caused agricultural or other kinds of damage are sent as an alternative to culling. This is the fourth consecutive annual decrease, which the foundation says is a result of fewer destructive deer being caught.

But then they would all end up here!

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Visited in late 2020 when the border was slammed shut. It was so peaceful. Wouldn't dream of going there now.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Shady organization at best: try to keep the public image that Nara cares for the deers, while behind the scenes they are trying to save cost and make a profit. There was a doc on tv a few months ago about the situation in that "fenced facility", ak deer prison: dismal lake of care, and the decrease in number is mainly bc of deer dying from malnutrition and sickness. Everyone who thinks Nara lets the deer roam free because they are "holy" needs some serious reality check!

6 ( +8 / -2 )

It beats dying of hunger as they did in the pandemic…

0 ( +4 / -4 )

When tourist population decline, Japan cries. When rises, Japan cries.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

One of these not so dear animals bit me in the butt where my shikasenbei was in my pocket.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

One time, a deer snuck up from behind me and stole a yakimo from my pocket. It was pretty funny. And, most likely more nutritious than those crackers.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I was just watching the video of the Chinese guy kicking and slapping the deer in Nara the other day.

https://youtu.be/Vly4z-ABXRQ?si=s7VyI2GSyCfBscan

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sorry guys. I apologize to our Chinese readers and followers. It is not confirmed that the man mentioned in the video I mentioned above is Chinese. My bad.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

More deer coming because of the free buffett? Lol. Easy solution to lower the numbers of deer coming to the park is decrease the feeding of the deer if that is what they want, but perhaps they like more deer there. Tourist do.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

welcome to Japan, get your stuff, then GTFO

arigato gozaimasu

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Factchecker

went in 2021 with my dear partner, was wonderful and sooo quiet everywhere, how it should be.

It’s horrid name, another vile and beastly tourist trap, very sad isn’t it.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Oh dear!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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