Where does the Japanese macaque live?
The Japanese macaque lives in Japan, where it is the only native monkey. It is called the "snow monkey", because some live in areas where snow covers the ground for months each year. No other non-human primate lives farther north, nor in a colder climate. It has thick brownish-grey fur, a pinkish-red face and a short tail. Two subspecies are recognised.
What does the Japanese macaque eat?
Its diet includes more than 213 plant species, as well as insects, bark, flowers, nectar, fruits, nuts, seeds and fungi. At Jigokudani Monkey Park, macaques bathe in hot springs in winter, which lowers their stress. It spends much of its time on the ground. In colder areas, from autumn to early winter, macaques feed in between different activities. In winter they have two to four feeding bouts a day, with fewer activities; in spring and summer, two or three. Macaques live in matrilineal societies: females stay in their natal group. They groom each other to maintain social relationships and hygiene, even with unrelated females.
Is the Japanese macaque endangered?
No: the IUCN lists it as Least Concern. In Japan, when people simply say "saru", monkey, they usually have the Japanese macaque in mind, so familiar is it. It is called Nihonzaru, "Japan monkey". More than 20,000 macaques are culled each year because of conflicts with agriculture.
