Pedigree of animals of the Japanese macaque, habitat of primates, behavior and nutrition, reproduction, keeping at home, buying a pet. The Japanese macaque is one of the genera that belongs to the monkey family. The history of the discovery of red-cheeked monkeys stretches back to 1985. The first who introduced everyone to these wonderful animals was the English pharmacist and zoologist Edward Blyth (1810-1873). He is also widely recognized as the founder of Indian zoology.
The binomial name of the Japanese macaque sounds like - Macaca fuscata, and in Japanese they are called - "nihonzaru". They also include two subspecies:
- Macaca fuscata fuscata (Japanese real macaque);
- Macaca fuscata yakui (Yakushima macaque).
The habitat of the Japanese monkey
Harsh snowy climate, extreme conditions - nothing will scare this amazing animal. It is one of the only species of monkeys that can adapt to freezing temperatures with ease.
The natural habitat for red-cheeked macaques is the tropical, subtropical and mountain forests of Japan. They are found on the three islands of Kyushu, Honshu and Shikoku. In addition to their usual range of residence, these primates have adapted well in one of the United States of America, namely in the state of Texas. A small population of these striking specimens of the planet's fauna was artificially populated there in 1972 in a very interesting way. One Texas farmer has about 150 Japanese macaques on his ranch. Over time, they managed to reproduce safely, and then completely fled from their master.
In the northern part of their homeland, they live in cool deciduous forests, where winter can last up to four months. The temperature in the winter months averages -5 degrees, and the amount of precipitation falls in the region of 1600 millimeters.
Japanese macaques live mainly in large groups of 10 to 100 individuals, which include both females and males. At the same time, the strictest hierarchy is mandatory (subordination of the lower links to the higher ones).
Behavior of a Japanese monkey in extreme cold
Not scary for Japanese macaques and the onset of severe frosts. In this case, they spend all their time in hot springs.
There is a legend according to which a female snow primate was the first to climb into a "warm bath", taking out scattered beans from the water. Imagine her surprise when, having plunged into the hot spring, she felt incredible pleasure. Kindred watched her and could not understand what caused a smile and pleasure in the macaque. Subsequently, they decided to try it on themselves and climbed into the water after the female.
True, there are some nuances here. Being in warm water for a long time, monkeys involuntarily become its hostages, because they have nothing to eat, and when they try to get out of the hot "font" in search of food, they feel considerable discomfort, as they begin to freeze strongly due to wet wool. But wise primates found a very interesting way out of this situation. They use a kind of watch scheme: while a group of animals is in the water, the other two bring them food, then they alternate.
Savvy Japanese Macaque Nature Park
Nowadays, people have the opportunity to personally see and observe the bathing process of these amazing animals. Not everyone knows, but in Japan there is a park in which you can see red-cheeked monkeys at arm's length. To do this, however, you will need to make some efforts - to climb up to a distance of close to 1-2 kilometers. It is there, in the bed of the Ekoyu River, that a very unusual and picturesque place is located - the Jigokudani Park. People often call this place - the park of snow monkeys.
Jigokudani means "Hell's Valley" in translation. There are incredibly steep rocks on the territory of the park, and steam rises all the time from the hot water - it is because of this combination that the park involuntarily resembles the underworld described in literature for centuries.
It was the Japanese macaques that helped Jigokudani become famous almost all over the world. They inhabit the entire area of the park and always surprise with their original behavior and love for onsen (thermal springs).
Northern monkeys have been inhabiting their home and at the same time a “spa” since about 1962–1963, but the park itself was opened in 1964. Since its opening, it has gained international fame as the only place where you can contemplate the bathing of Japanese macaques in the wild. The "bath" season mainly falls on the period from November to March. At this time, many tourists from all over our vast planet come to Jigokudani. The reservoirs in this unusual park are not fenced, so guests can closely follow the monkeys, their behavior and see with their own eyes what incredible pleasure the animals get from bathing. The result is obvious on their faces, splashing in the water, from the received pleasure the macaques even close their eyes for a while.
There are, however, some restrictions for visitors. The park management prohibits feeding, touching, or stroking the monkeys. It is not recommended to swing your arms and do not resort to sudden movements, so that the snow primates are not frightened. It is also undesirable to look them directly in the eyes, since for animals it is a sign that portends danger and a hostile attitude. But photo and video filming is allowed and even encouraged. Visitors can easily capture the original behavior of the amazing macaques. The only nuance that needs to be taken into account is that it is better to get the camera out of the case away from the Japanese monkeys, because this can induce them to aggression. The entrance to the park is open every day, although in case of unfavorable weather conditions, the management is forced to close Jigokudani until the onset of good weather.
The appearance of a monkey from Japan
A distinctive feature of the snow monkeys from the rest of the members of the monkey family is, of course, their bright red face. Due to their thick and dense fur, they appear large and heavy, although in reality they are not very large. Fur also helps them to easily overcome severe frosts. The color is found in either brownish or gray shades. True, their buttocks, paws and muzzle are absolutely not covered with fur.
Northern macaques have obvious sexual dimorphism. Males reach 70–80 cm in height, females are shorter than 50–60 cm. The weight of males ranges from 11 to 15 kg, females gain a maximum of 10 kg in weight. As for the tail, it is short, no more than 11 cm.
Eating Japanese macaques
Red-cheeked monkeys are absolutely undemanding to food. The only thing that influences changes in their diet is the seasons. In winter, they eat mostly foliage. In order not to suffer from frost, they need a lot of energy, so in winter primates with bright faces try to eat as much as possible. In the spring months - nectar and flower plants, while in the summer they prefer berries, fruits and fruits.
Japanese macaques are excellent swimmers and divers. These skills help them diversify their food even more. They catch shellfish, fish and crayfish.
Breeding northern monkeys
These amazing animals live in large and close-knit families of 10-15 to 100-150 individuals of different sexes. The relationship between individuals is very friendly, conflict situations are practically absent, and if they arise, then it is quite rare.
They have well-developed methods and options for networking with each other. In communication, they use all kinds of facial expressions, gestures, and sometimes even sounds.
There are six types of voice signals that are inherent in Japanese macaques:
- peaceful;
- aggressive;
- protective;
- warning;
- sounds during estrus in a female;
- sounds in infancy.
More than half of these sounds are calm and peaceful signals.
There are often cases when individual families come up with their own "language", which is absolutely incomprehensible to monkeys of other flocks.
The leader of the colony in Japanese macaques is the largest and most prominent male. For himself, he chooses an assistant, who often takes over all the responsibilities. If grief occurs and the leader dies, the assistant automatically takes his place.
An important detail in the reproduction of these bright primates is that the male must necessarily nurture, groom and cherish his soul mate. Females often choose courageous and reputable males.
Females of red-cheeked monkeys reach sexual maturity at the age of 3 to 4 years, and the male at 4, 5 years. Reproduction usually occurs from the beginning of spring days to September. The gestation period is approximately 180 days. Most often, one baby weighing about 500 grams is born, but there are also rare cases when a monkey can become pregnant with two or even three cubs.
As soon as the female feels that she is ready for the birth of a offspring, she leaves her family and looks for a secluded, safe and convenient place for childbirth. After birth, the baby grabs the mother's belly, so the two of them move and feed, while the female always holds him with her hand, helping him to hold on. Over time, the "child" is transplanted onto its back and remains there until it becomes independent. When the baby monkey reaches 8 months of age, it is weaned from its mother's breast. True, females can nurture their cubs up to 2 years old, only if during this period they did not have another baby.
This genus of the Monkey family has a high infant mortality rate, it is 29 percent. Therefore, parents devote a lot of time, attention and energy to guardianship and nursing. As in many families, the female takes care of the child, but it is worth considering the fact that the male also helps his baby a lot, feeds and takes care of him.
Japanese macaques live on average from 20 to 32 years in the wild. If in captivity, then their life expectancy is slightly higher.
Distinctive features of Japanese monkeys
Snow macaques are used to living both in trees and on the ground, while they often move on all fours. Females spend most of their time on the tree, but the male, on the contrary, prefers to be more below.
Each individual colony has a hierarchy. She makes herself felt even during a meal. The head of the pack begins his meal first, then all the rest, in turn, according to the place in the colony that they occupy. That is why macaques, occupying the lowest rank, get the least healthy and tasty food.
When the weather is warm and favorable, Japanese monkeys do not mind playing snowballs. They are very capable of repeating various activities. When a monkey sees a person, for example, rolling a snowball in the snow, it will immediately start repeating it.
Snow primates, being in the wild, are very susceptible to attack by various predators: wild dogs, raccoons, mountain eagles and, naturally, humans, since it is believed that macaques are harmful to agricultural crops. Subsequently, in 1998, more than 10 thousand animals were killed.
Keeping Japanese macaques, home care
Almost every second person has a pet in his house. Most often, preference is given to dogs, cats, rodents, parrots or fish. But there are also those who do not evenly breathe towards unusual and outlandish animals. It is to these that the snow primates are referred. In truth, not many people dare to have a primate in their home, especially such an exotic one, because caring for a monkey should be as attentive and serious as caring for a human child. That is why monkeys are also called eternal children.
If you have a desire to acquire a Japanese macaque, first of all, weigh the pros and cons of this decision, and also sensibly assess the responsibilities and chores that you want to take on. You should understand as much as possible what living conditions the animal needs, what it should eat, how to soften its stay in captivity, because, first of all, the Japanese monkey is a wild creature. True, she is still one of those monkeys that can be kept at home.
Macaques are by nature very active and mobile animals. They are very fond of seeing, touching, tugging, so it is obvious that they need to be kept either in a special cage or in an aviary. Their home should be spacious and comfortable. It is desirable that the cage is 8 to 10 square meters in size.
Also, close attention should be paid to the level of strength of the monkey house. Primates are smart enough and can unbend the sticks of the cage to get free, so a nickel-plated cage should be preferred, and the top is covered with a net.
Separate containers should be installed for feeding and drinking.
Do not forget that Japanese macaques cannot be let out of sight, because in an instant they can unscrew the tap with water, gas, turn on electrical household appliances, which can lead to undesirable consequences. Therefore, when you want to let your pet go for a walk around the house, for your and his safety, try to follow him.
It is very good if the owners have the opportunity to allocate a separate room for such a pet. At one end, you can place a cage, and arrange the rest for an area for walking.
Do not forget about the issue that concerns the personal hygiene and toilet of northern monkeys. In this case, any metal container or basin can help you. You need to fill the container with sand or coarse filler. It is not worth using paper, as your pet will simply tear it to shreds, which you will have to collect.
When keeping such an unusual primate in a house, the regime must be observed. Changing your daily routine can be very stressful for your pet. Monkeys are frightened by a large number of people and a change of scenery.
Check your pet's litter box regularly and change litter frequently to avoid unwanted odors. In the daytime, you need to use diapers. You need to bathe your pet twice a day with any baby shampoo. Do not forget to check the Japanese monkey's house, as they love to hide food, which eventually deteriorates and harms both the animal and the owners.
If you have small children, then the idea of acquiring a Japanese macaque should be abandoned. This will be uncomfortable for both the child and the pet.
Buying a Japanese macaque
Getting a snow monkey into your home is not the cheapest pleasure. The cost of such a monkey is at least 200,000 to 250,000 rubles.
These animals are listed in the Red Book, but it is not yet forbidden to legally buy them for keeping at home. However, for this you need special permission.
In addition to money, you will need to spend a lot of your strength, energy and time in caring for such an unusual pet, but in return you will acquire a real family member and the very best friend who wakes you up constantly to surprise, amuse and delight your eyes.
More information about Japanese macaques in this video:
