Hungry Deers In Nara Venture Into Roads & Train Station In Search Of Food
Nara, Japan, is famous for its Buddhist temples and statues. But for many, the southern city is also synonymous with deers.
In fact, the city is home to hundreds of roaming deers, who some consider the “messengers of the gods“.
Most of the deers normally hang out inside Nara Park. However, with the declining tourist numbers as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, herds have reportedly ventured out of their usual territories in search of food.
Some have been sighted at train stations while others were seen walking on the roads of Nara.
Nara Deers normally content with crackers fed by tourists
Nara, home to the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue, sees a steady stream of tourists under normal circumstances.
Apart from its religious sites and monuments, feeding deers is also a popular activity among tourists visiting the southern city.
However, with the Covid-19 outbreak and ban on Chinese visitors, tourist numbers have fallen drastically by around 80%, according to Soranews24.
Usually, the deers would be content with the crackers fed by hordes of tourists visiting the city.
But as the number of tourists decreases, it would seem that deers have become increasingly desperate in their search for food.
One hungry deer even chased a young girl to the point of her falling.
奈良の鹿に目をつけられアタックされる女の子 – https://t.co/RdPTM5xfdo pic.twitter.com/6JYjd0NvTd
— Re:file（リファイル） (@gbbbsjp) March 7, 2020
Nara deers travel outside usual habitat to look for food
Nara deers have also begun showing up at places outside its usual habitat.
Most recently, they were seen at Nara station, 3.1km away from the park — a journey that normally takes 20 minutes by foot.
Deers were also spotted along sidewalks grazing on grass and shrubs.
By the way, it ain’t just a handful of deers we’re talking about. Herds of them were seen venturing out of the park in search of food.
今朝の🦌動画
コンビニへ寄り道の巻😁#奈良#鹿 pic.twitter.com/bnqJnqCyyI— okadennis (@okadennis) March 4, 2020
Hope Covid-19 situation will improve soon
We hope the Covid-19 outbreak will take a turn for the better soon so Nara’s tourism sector will resume normalcy.
Nara deers aren’t the only ones who are starving as an indirect result of the new coronavirus. Monkeys in Thailand are also engaging in turf wars as they are forced to venture into unfamiliar grounds to fill their bellies.
These animals clearly depend on visitors and tourists for food. And if the Covid-19 situation does not improve, we fear they might starve for the months to come.
Featured image adapted from Twitter.
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