A deer conservation group in Nara City, western Japan, will start issuing advisories to the public at times when the deer pose a heightened risk to visitors.
Wild deer in and around Nara Park are popular with tourists. But authorities say 43 people were gored by the deer’s antlers last month. The figure is a 2.5-fold increase from September last year.
The Nara Deer Preservation Foundation has been urging visitors to be careful when getting close to the animals.
The group will now cooperate with the Nara prefectural government and other parties to issue advisories and warnings in three stages, during seasons when visitors are at higher risk of getting hurt.
Visitors will be asked to exercise caution when lots of female deer become pregnant and are irritable.
They will also be asked to be extremely careful when the male deer’s antlers grow.
When the risks are deemed very serious, a warning will be issued.
The group is expected to issue an “extreme caution” advisory from Thursday.
Through messages on social media and digital signboards in the city, visitors will be urged to stay away from the deer.
Group official Yamazaki Nobuyuki says they want more people to become aware that deer are very dangerous during some seasons.