【悲報】鹿くん、うっかり奈良を出てしまったが為に「天然記念物」の資格を失ってしまう・・・
It's well-known that Nara's deer are designated as Natural Monuments, but this status is strictly limited to "Nara Park and its surrounding areas."
A recent incident involving a deer that accidentally wandered out of this zone and consequently lost its Natural Monument status has sparked public discussion.
The news, met with mixed reactions online from "pity" to "rules are rules," is a thought-provoking and somewhat sad story.
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What are Nara's Deer?
Refers to the herds of sika deer that primarily inhabit Nara Park. They have been revered as divine messengers of Kasuga Taisha Shrine since ancient times and cherished by locals and tourists alike. Their historical and cultural background, combined with their unique habituation to humans, led to their designation as a National Natural Monument. However, this designation is limited to a specific geographical area, "Nara Park and its surrounding regions," meaning that deer venturing outside this range are no longer covered by the designation.
What is a Natural Monument?
Based on Japan's Cultural Properties Protection Act, this is a system where the government designates and protects flora and fauna, geological features, minerals, and natural phenomena of high academic value. Sometimes an entire species is designated, while other times it applies to specific herds or individuals in a particular region. In the case of Nara's deer, a specific herd in a specific area is designated as "Nara no Shika" (Deer of Nara), and their entire habitat is subject to protection. Receiving this designation imposes restrictions on development and capture, ensuring thorough protection.
What is the Cultural Properties Protection Act?
This law was established with the purpose of preserving valuable cultural properties within Japan and promoting their utilization. It stipulates the protection of a wide range of cultural properties, including tangible cultural properties, intangible cultural properties, folk cultural properties, monuments (historic sites, places of scenic beauty, natural monuments), cultural landscapes, and traditional building groups. The designation and cancellation of Natural Monuments are also carried out based on this law, with strict management systems in place, such as requiring national permission for any alteration, destruction, or damage to cultural properties.
What are Shika Senbei (Deer Crackers)?
These are special snacks specifically made for the deer in Nara Park. Made primarily from rice bran and wheat flour, they contain no unnecessary additives, considering the deer's health. The sight of deer flocking to tourists holding shika senbei is one of Nara's famous attractions. However, overfeeding or improper manners can negatively affect the deer's health and their relationship with humans, so appropriate feeding practices are encouraged.