It has been pointed out that the organization that protects the deer in Nara Park is not feeding enough of the deer housed in the facility, and Nara Prefecture has announced the results of a survey that the environment of the facility was inappropriate.

The Nara Deer Welfare Association, which protects deer in Nara Park, contains deer that have devoured crops in an area called a "special fence" in the facility.

In response to a report from a veterinarian that the deer at this facility were "emaciated due to lack of adequate food, and that it was animal cruelty," Nara Prefecture conducted an investigation into the facility's management system in September and announced the results on the 9th.

According to the report, the quality of the food, the way it was given, the overcrowding, and the lack of a place to rest were all problematic and inappropriate in light of the five international standards of animal welfare.

In addition, Nara Prefecture said that the responsibility of the conservation group was heavy, and that the prefecture itself had a certain responsibility in that it did not proactively grasp the breeding situation.

On top of that, regarding how to keep animals in "special fences", the organization should improve the environment by receiving advice from experts.

In addition, regarding what to do with the "special fence" in the future, a subcommittee consisting of veterinarians and agricultural personnel will be set up in the prefectural review committee to study the matter, and measures will be presented in about one year.

Governor Yamashita said, "The protection management under the current rules is constant, and we have no choice but to review it, and if the budget is insufficient, we will discuss with Nara City and others and consider increasing the amount."

What is a "special fence"?

The "Special Fence" is located in the "Deer Garden", a facility operated by the "Nara Deer Welfare Association", which conducts deer protection activities, in Nara Park.

The area is about 5000,1 square meters, and deer that have caused some harm to humans, such as eating crops in fields and attacking people, are separated into males and females, and are housed in a fenced state.

As a general rule, once a deer has been contained, it is not returned to the outside, but is fed twice a day with commercially available grain, etc., and if it is judged that treatment is necessary due to injury or illness, appropriate treatment is carried out.

According to the Welfare Association, the number of deer housed in the "special fence" is 2 males and
6 females as of
June 98.

The deer management system is

The deer that inhabit Nara Park and other areas were designated as a national natural monument in Showa 32 and were protected by law.

On the other hand, damage to crops by deer in various parts of the city also became a problem, and in the 50s, farmers filed lawsuits against the government and others.

Based on the results of the settlement in the courtcase, the national and prefectural governments have divided the habitat area of deer into four districts, centered on Nara Park, and have indicated the standards for protection and capture of each deer.

Currently, areas such as Nara Park, Kofukuji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine are designated as "priority protection areas," and the Kasugayama primeval forest and urban areas around this area are designated as "protected areas,"
but since there is almost no farmland in these areas, unless you cause harm such as injury to people,
Basically, deer are not caught.

Further outside these districts are "buffer districts" and "administrative districts."

In the "management area" away from the "priority protection area", it is possible to exterminate to prevent agricultural damage, but in the "buffer area", although it cannot be exterminated, it is possible to capture, and most of the deer housed in the "special fence" lived in this area.

Since there is a risk of agricultural damage again if the captured deer are returned, the deer that have been housed in a "special fence" are kept in principle until they die.