Nara Police Patrols to Protect Deer After Viral Video of Abuse

Following the disturbing viral video of a young man kicking a deer in Nara Park, police have stepped up patrols to educate tourists and prevent further harm to the animals.

On July 25th, officers joined forces with prefectural and municipal officials, along with members of the Nara Deer Preservation Foundation, to distribute flyers in multiple languages. These flyers provided information on how to interact with the deer safely and respectfully. Additionally, officers fluent in English and Chinese directly reminded tourists not to engage in harmful behavior towards the deer.

The deer in Nara Park hold a special significance, considered messengers of the gods and protected since ancient times. Historical records document the execution of individuals who harmed deer during the Kamakura and Edo periods. In 1957, the deer were designated as national natural monuments, further solidifying their protected status.

Harming a deer can result in serious legal consequences. Individuals causing serious injury or death to a deer face imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to 1 million yen (approximately $6,500) under the law for the protection of cultural properties. Recent convictions include a case in 2010 where a man and woman were found guilty of killing a deer with a crossbow, and another in 2021 where a man was convicted of fatally striking a deer with an axe-like blade.

Despite the legal repercussions, identifying individuals who harm deer can be challenging, especially if the animal is not severely injured. This difficulty stems from the challenge of pinpointing the specific deer that was harmed.

In response to the viral video, the prefectural government has extended the display time of information on digital signage at Kintetsu-Nara Station, urging tourists to refrain from hitting or chasing the deer.

Nobuyuki Yamazaki, secretary-general of the deer preservation foundation, emphasized the ongoing collaboration with administrative agencies to ensure tourists treat Nara's deer with the respect they deserve.