Thanks to traditions and religious beliefs, Nara Park’s famous Japanese elk do not look like a close relative.
According to Japanese culture, the sika deer in Nara Park is considered sacred. For this reason, hunting is prohibited. Additionally, these wild deer have become isolated from their relatives, allowing for the maintenance of a rare, long-standing population with unique genetics, writes IFLScience.
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The sika deer in Nara Park, by contrast, is a rare example of human activity that contributes to the survival of the wild animal population. Often, unfortunately, our actions do more harm than good to them. Hunting is prohibited in the forests around temples in Japan, so they are safe zones for different species.
Sika deer have long been considered sacred animals, and they appear in many legends and ancient stories. This is why safe zones were created for them hundreds of years ago. And this has led researchers to think about how spiritual reserves might affect the DNA of animals.
Dr Toshihito Takagi, co-author of the study, said: “Legend has it that the sika deer in Nara Park have long been tightly guarded as messengers of the gods. Today it is one of Japan’s biggest tourist attractions. However, very little genetic research has been done. It has been completed. “
The researcher and his team performed genetic analysis using 294 muscle and blood samples. With samples from 30 sites on the peninsula, they were able to identify three genetic groups among the deer. These are the eastern genetic group, the western genetic group, and the isolated genetic group from deer living in the Kasuga taisha temple.
This indicates limited maternal gene flow in this group. Most likely this is because women tend to stick to one place of residence when they find exactly what they like.
This, for its part, limits their chances of breeding with genetically very different groups, i.e. leads to the existence of unique genetic lines. It is possible that their unique genetic variation has been preserved due to an accidental entry into the protected area, as they are not preserved in more remote wild populations.
Researchers believe sika deer populations are experiencing adverse effects as their habitats are fragmented and regionally destroyed as a result of human activities. But research proves that these religiously protected wild animals have survived for over 1,000 years in Nara Park, while other populations have disappeared due to hunting and settlement.
The results of the study are critical to the conservation of these animals. Each time, a large population created problems for agriculture and forestry. Also, cases of crossing of different genetic groups have become more frequent, which can lead to the extinction of the uniqueness of the deer from the park due to mixing.
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Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.