Japan’s famous Nara deer dying from eating plastic bags
- Nine of the animals were found with masses of plastic in their stomachs, wildlife group says
- More than 1,000 deer live in Nara Park, where tourists are forbidden from feeding them anything except special crackers
Nine deer have died after swallowing plastic bags in Japan’s Nara Park, a wildlife group said on Wednesday, warning that a surge in tourism may be to blame.
The Nara Deer Preservation Foundation said that masses of plastic bags and snack packets were found in the stomachs of the deer, who died between March and June this year.
“The biggest [piece of] litter found in one of the nine amounted to 4.3kg (9.5 pounds),” foundation official Yoshitaka Ashimura said.
“We were surprised. It was so big.”
The picturesque park in Japan’s ancient capital is home to more than 1,000 deer, who can even be found roaming the streets in search of special tasty crackers offered by tourists.
Tourists are forbidden from feeding the deer any food besides the crackers, but Ashimura said some visitors offer the animals other types of snacks.