In Japan's picturesque Nara Park, a dedicated team of litter-pickers known as 'Beautiful Deer' are working tirelessly to combat the growing problem of plastic waste that poses a serious threat to the park's resident deer. The team, primarily composed of individuals with disabilities, patrols the park, collecting discarded plastic items that can accumulate in the deer's stomachs, leading to weakness and death. While tourists are encouraged to feed the deer special rice crackers, the influx of visitors has resulted in an increase in litter, prompting authorities to implement innovative solutions like solar-powered trash bins.
As playful deer dart after delighted tourists in Japan 's temple-studded Nara Park , a dedicated team of litter-pickers quietly patrols the stone paths, diligently collecting plastic waste that poses a threat to the animals' health. The ancient city of Nara is a popular destination for the country's record influx of visitors – but like in neighboring Kyoto, where crowds of photographers have been accused of harassing the famous geisha, there have been negative consequences.
While tourists are permitted to feed the deer special rice crackers sold in Nara, the animals are increasingly ingesting trash by accident. 'More and more people are discarding their leftovers or snack packaging in the park,' Nobuyuki Yamazaki of the Nara Deer Preservation Foundation told AFP. 'Plastic items can accumulate in deer stomachs over a long period, leading to their death through weakness,' he warned.A specialized team, called Beautiful Deer, armed with gloves, tongs, and dustpans, is waging war against this plastic pollution. This team, which primarily employs people with disabilities, has been collaborating with Yamazaki's foundation for several years. Around half a dozen Beautiful Deer staff patrol the park in bright green jackets, remaining unfazed by the excited squeals of vacationers surrounded by their hoofed companions. For many members, 'the idea they are contributing to society is at the core of their motivation,' said the squad's supervisor, Masahito Kawanishi.Approximately 1,300 wild deer roam the expansive park, which has been their home since the eighth century, according to legend, serving as divine messengers for a Shinto shrine. Attracted partly by the weak Japanese yen, 36.8 million foreign visitors arrived in Japan last year, a new record that the government aims to nearly double to 60 million annually by 2030. However, residents and authorities in tourist-heavy areas, from traditional Kyoto to towns near the majestic Mount Fuji, are increasingly voicing their concerns about overcrowding, traffic violations, and the inappropriate behavior of some visitors. Nara Park is no exception – particularly when it comes to litter. The park lacks public trash bins – a policy implemented about four decades ago to prevent deer from scavenging for food. Visitors are instead encouraged to take their trash home – a deeply ingrained habit in Japan that is not always shared by those from abroad, Yamazaki explained.With cultural differences in mind, Nara authorities are experimenting with high-tech, solar-powered trash bins near the park in a 20-million-yen (RM581,188) project. These bins can automatically compress waste and display the slogan: 'Save the Nara deer from plastic waste'. Public trash bins are scarce throughout Japan, with one theory being that they were removed following the deadly 1995 subway sarin gas attack by a doomsday cult. Gawel Golecki, a 40-year-old from Poland who frequently visits Japan, told AFP that he now keeps his trash with him. French tourist Arnaud Bielecki, 56, stated that 'it's a shame that the deer eat plastic dropped by visitors,' adding that the Beautiful Deer squad deserves support
Nara Park Japan Deer Plastic Pollution Litter Picking Wildlife Conservation Sustainability Tourism Environmental Issues
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