Looking good today: A member of the Beautiful Deer patrol squad looking at a deer during a daily litter cleaning routine at Nara Park in Nara. — AFP
As peckish deer chase delighted tourists in Japan’s temple-dotted Nara Park, a quiet but dedicated team of litter-pickers patrols the stone paths, collecting plastic waste that threatens the animals’ health.
The ancient city of Nara is a major draw for the country’s record influx of visitors – but like in nearby Kyoto, where photo-hungry crowds have been accused of pestering the famous geisha, there have been unwelcome consequences.
