Courtesy of Toho Air Service Co., Kyodo News
A large herd of deer was spotted this summer in the Southern Alps on the border of Ina and Oshika in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, with officials voicing concern about damage to vegetation.
The deer are believed to be expanding their habitat into higher elevations against a backdrop of the effects of global warming. Damage has been confirmed, with alpine plants eaten or trampled.
"With so many deer, we are worried about the impact on the ecosystem," an Oshika official in charge of agriculture and forestry promotion said. "They could also move into neighboring Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures."