Originally from Siberia and Japan, the Sika deer is now present on 6 of the Earth's continents. It gets its name from the Japanese word "shika", which means deer. Sika deer have very strong ties to the Shinto religion in Japan, and are worshipped by those who practice it. Years ago, if someone killed a Sika deer, it was punishable by death because of how high they were regarded in the Shinto religion. Now, they are classified as a national treasure, and are still protected in some areas such as Nara, Japan and on the island of Miyajima because they are believed to be messengers from the Gods.