A woman has sparked widespread outrage in Japan after a viral video showed her repeatedly attempting to sit on the back of a deer in Nara for photographs, despite the animal reportedly suffering from a previous leg injury.
The footage, which has been widely circulated online, shows a woman dressed in a short white dress and high heels approaching the deer and trying to climb onto its back while posing for pictures.
According to witnesses, the deer attempted to move away from the woman. However, she reportedly continued following the animal and made repeated attempts to sit on it.
The video shows the woman eventually managing to place her weight on the deer before the animal reacted by shaking its head and forcing her away. She was then seen laughing and stepping aside, while a male companion continued filming the incident on his mobile phone.
The clip quickly triggered backlash on social media, with many viewers condemning the behaviour as disrespectful and harmful to the animal.
A volunteer who helps care for Nara’s famous deer later revealed that the animal featured in the video had previously suffered a broken front leg after being involved in a traffic accident.
The volunteer, known online as “Nara no Tsunokaku Tashi,” said he had personally cared for the deer and described the woman’s actions as unacceptable.
He argued that forcing oneself onto an injured animal struggling to survive amounted to animal abuse and criticised the behaviour as completely inexcusable.
The post gained significant attention online, attracting tens of thousands of reactions and hundreds of thousands of views.
Many Japanese social media users expressed anger over the incident, noting that Nara’s deer are regarded as cultural treasures and are traditionally viewed as sacred messengers in Japanese belief.
Several commenters questioned whether authorities should investigate the incident, while others criticised tourists who treat the animals as photo props rather than living creatures.
The incident has renewed calls for greater awareness and respect towards wildlife in popular tourist destinations, particularly in areas where animals frequently interact with visitors.
