The Sika deer of Nara are renowned for their distinctive behavior of bowing to tourists. This behavior is learned; the deer have discovered that imitating a Japanese bow often leads to rewards in the form of Shika Senbei (deer crackers). While seemingly polite and charming, this gesture is essentially a request for food. Visitors are encouraged to reciprocate the bow and offer a cracker immediately to uphold the etiquette. These deer are considered sacred messengers of the gods in Shinto belief and have coexisted with humans in Nara Park for over a millennium.