Photo/Illutration Deer grazing near the Nara prefectural office on July 17, outside their usual territory of Nara Park (Hideki Inoue)

NARA--Deer numbers in Nara Park here are at an all-time high, highlighting not only the success of conservation efforts but also the growing challenge of maintaining safe interactions between the animals and tourists.

The deer population now stands at 1,465, up 140 from last year and the highest level since comparable records began in 1953, according to the Nara Deer Preservation Foundation.

According to a survey the foundation released on July 17 that it conducted over the previous two days, 315 bucks, 816 does and 334 fawns inhabit the park.

The growing population reflects efforts to keep the animals safe as they are sacred in Shinto tradition and central to the city’s tourism appeal.

However, the sheer number of deer brings challenges: traffic accidents and injuries--more tourists being bitten and deer being hit by cars--as well as growing cases of deer venturing into city areas for food.

Between July last year and this June, 140 deer fatalities were recorded in the area, 10 more than the previous year.

Thirty-six of the deaths were due to traffic accidents and 30 as a result of illness. More than half of the fatal accidents occurred on two roads that run through or alongside the park.

In recent months, deer have frequently been spotted grazing on grass outside their usual territory; for example, in the grounds of the Nara prefectural office as well as the Nara District Court, across busy National Route 369.

Deer have also begun encroaching near residential areas and farmland around Shin-Omiya Station, which is located more than a kilometer from the park.

Nara’s deer, designated as a national natural monument, are protected under the law.

Nara Park and its surrounding areas are classified as a conservation zone, where the capture or removal of deer is strictly restricted.

However, authorities have had to round up deer that ventured into outlying areas when the animals caused damage to crops.

A prefectural expert panel previously considered expanding culling areas but decided against it last year, opting instead to reinforce measures such as fencing.

According to prefectural officials, there were 25 cases of deer-related agricultural damage reported in fiscal 2023 and 15 in fiscal 2024.

They noted that the increase in deer numbers did not necessarily lead to an immediate rise in crop damage.

As the deer population continues to grow, balancing cultural and environmental preservation, public safety and agricultural protection remain ongoing challenges for the historic city.

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