Environment

Nara Deers Look Emaciated, Expert Says They’re Expecting Visitors’ Treats

Skinny Nara Deers May Be dependent On Biscuits, Refusing To Follow Natural Diet

Nara Park, where deers roam freely and tourists are allowed to feed them treats, is arguably the most famous attraction in Nara Prefecture, Japan

Source

Unfortunately, it appears some of the deers there have lost a significant amount of weight as travel restrictions are implemented across the world.

Recently, pictures of emaciated-looking deers allegedly in Nara took the internet by storm.

Source

Deer at Nara Park look bone-thin

In one picture that started circulating since August, an alleged Nara Park deer look bone-thin, with the outline of its ribcage clearly visible.

Source

Such a scene is especially hard to image, given the number of tourists that would flock to Nara under normal circumstances.

Source

Nara Park deer may be “addicted” to biscuits

Nara deer usually bow to visitors of the park in exchange for crackers. However, tourists have become a rare sight amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Source

The Nara Deer Preservation Foundation shared that the biscuits only serve as an add-on to the mammal’s natural diet, which consists of grass growing around the park, reports 9GAG.

Source

Unfortunately, Assistant Professor of Conservation Ecology Shiro Tatsuzawa said that the deer may have become reliant on the crackers and choose not to consume other foods.

Deer wandered out of park for food before

Earlier in March, herds of hungry deers reportedly wandered out of Nara Park in search of food.

They were reportedly seen at train stations as well as on the roads of Nara.

Source

This further highlight the deers’ desperation to find food.

Source

However, it is also saddening to see that they seem to have grown reliant on human food instead of the leaves and grass found at Nara Park.

Source

Hope they’ll be able to adapt

Malnutrition may lead to a weakened immune system in animals and the deers at Nara Park are no exception.

We hope they will be able to adapt to the lack of visitors at least for the near future, eating the natural food found around Nara Park.

Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at hello@mustsharenews.com.

Featured images adapted from Livedoor News and Ameblo.

Julian Tay

Julian loves to tell the stories of people and places with a camera and pen. If not, he'd be at a kopitiam, stoning.

Recent Posts

‘How can people live in this kind of condition?’: Tenants leave West Coast condo unit in a mess

In a bedroom, a solitary pair of white panties were draped on a hanger.

6 May 2024, 2:40 am

Actor Chen Xi engaged to Japanese woman, parents Edmund Chen & Xiang Yun give their blessing

"Let's write the next chapter together," he told her.

6 May 2024, 1:10 am

27-year-old woman to be charged with defamation over false claims about miscarriage at KKH

She will be the second person charged with defamation in relation to this case.

5 May 2024, 11:12 pm

M’sian girl diagnosed with rare liver cancer on 1st day of national exams, receives donations for treatment

Her family, with the help of One Hope Charity, managed to raise RM550,000 in 5…

5 May 2024, 7:32 pm

Drivers in Kallang argue after one honks at other for not seeing oncoming car while leaving lot

Some netizens said that the camcar driver shouldn't have pointed a middle finger.

5 May 2024, 7:11 pm

Dogs swim & play happily in flooded Newton condo carpark on 4 May

The canines played while everyone was waiting for the SCDF to pump the floodwaters out.

5 May 2024, 6:12 pm