Japan/Honshu: Nara – Sika Deer at Nara Park
Nara Park is a large area of parkland and temples and it’s full of free roaming deer that easily approach tourists everywhere. These are sika deer, native to Japan, and considered sacred. The deer in Nara are famous for bowing to visitors – many have learned to bow in exchange for deer crackers that are sold to tourists, many deer can be quite aggressive in demanding crackers and can bite your ass (literally). According to the legend, the deer came around 700 AD with the gods that built the nearby Kasuga Grand Shrine (next post), when god Takemikazuchi rode on a deer from Kili peninsula. DNA study was done on the Nara Park deer and found that they are genetically different from the present day Kili deer and the genetic code differentiation appears to be 1400 years old – so the legend actually jives! The deer were protected by law for centuries until after WWII when they were turned into a “natural national monument”. Now the population is carefully controlled not to overgrow. Still, over 100 tourists suffer injures from deer attacks each year!
