There is a kind of monkey in Japan that "peeps" at humans bathing, but unexpectedly it benefits the whole family.
Far north of Japan, a group of unusual monkeys, affectionately known as the Snow Monkeys, are nimble, tawny gray-brown creatures that weave through the snow like snow elves, their fur thick enough to withstand the cold.
While the average monkey only has a red buttocks, the snow monkeys have a distinctive red decoration that covers not only the face, but also the limbs and lower abdomen, and their short tail, which is only 6-11 cm, is particularly delicate.
The predominantly female leaders of these monkeys are known for their wisdom and decisiveness, and in this snow-covered world, the uncertainty of food pushes the snow monkey family to remain relatively small, often between 20 and 100 individuals, with females dominating 75% and males at 25%.
During the day, the monkeys mostly walk through the forest, looking for a variety of food, and their recipes include plant roots, stems, leaves, seeds, invertebrates, bird eggs, and a variety of grains.
Until one day, a curious little monkey came to the valley and stumbled upon humans bathing in a hot spring, this scene had a huge attraction for the monkeys, especially on a cold winter day, this little monkey did not hesitate to imitate this behavior, and unconsciously, but changed the lifestyle of the whole family.
The snow monkeys are fascinated by the wondrous comfort of the hot springs, and almost overnight, the monkeys on the edge of the hot springs become a wonder of the world, and these monkeys become so intimate that they become one of the most frequently seen animals in photographers' shots.
In order to better photograph them, people pour food into the hot spring water, and all this is a great way for the monkeys to enjoy their food.
Imagine a monkey holding its breath and bravely diving into a hot spring, stuffing its mouth with delicious food, and then quickly surfacing to the surface and enjoying the pleasure of the food, the process is like an underwater feast, and the monkeys become the gourmet chefs in the hot spring.
Some monkeys even performed the trick of eating with their feet, skillfully putting the food under the water into their mouths, enjoying the food while keeping their heads dry.
The monkey's voyeurism sparked the family's obsession with hot springs and led to a rapid expansion of the family's size, reaching 200 at one point, but the social structure of the monkey family did not change.
Each generation has a female leader, revered as the "Queen of the Monkeys", who is always surrounded by a group of right-hand men and her sisters who run the large and orderly family.
Under the rule of this female dynasty, every monkey in the family has a clear territory and rules, and no monkey can cross the line, otherwise he will face the queen's merciless beating, which is not a simple lesson, but a substantial blow that can lead to serious injury.
The queen would carefully select the male members, giving them certain powers, and the main task was to reproduce. In this unique social structure, power and reproduction are closely linked, and males must accept this established rule.
The family of monkeys next to the hot springs is just a small part of the overall snow monkey population, and the monkeys that live elsewhere are also led by females, but their lives are much tougher.
These mundane "commoner queens" not only had to find food for their families, but also faced a treacherous trek of hundreds of miles every day, in which the queen would send lower-status monkeys to scout for potential food.
If a monkey violates the rules and steals or destroys food, the queen will personally direct the guards to impose severe sanctions as a sign of family discipline.
In a snow monkey society, experience and status are equally important, with older monkeys often being revered by other members because they have more survival experience, they know how to survive in the wild, know where to be safe, and where to eat, this knowledge is essential for the survival of the monkey species, but in the snow-covered winters, these experiences seem a little inadequate.
Every day is a show, a feast of food in the hot springs, a carnival in the snow, and the snow monkeys live in this unique family and social structure that is both rules and order, as well as laughter and creativity.
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#Animals ##科普#
