Beware The Monkeys

Japan is a beautiful country known for its excellent food, unique culture, large vibrant cities, and peaceful landscapes. It's also one of the safest places in the world to visit and is a top tourist destination worldwide with attractions like Tokyo nightlife, Mount Fuji, Zen Buddhist Monasteries, and much more. But there is one resident of the island that seems determined to change all that. This brazen group seems to know no restraint when it comes to home invasion and daylight harassment of peaceful citizens. Beware the Japanese snow monkey.

The Japanese Macaque

The Japanese macaque or macaca fuscata is a native species indigenous to the island. They are sometimes referred to as snow monkeys because of their ability to live in wintry northern climates. No other primate lives in the wild so far north or in such cold conditions as these little fellows. They live throughout Japan and are intelligent animals famous for their collective bathing rituals in hot springs and for playing in the snow. Their pink faces and light brown to greyish hair make them unbelievably cute and photogenic. Increasingly, however, the lifestyle of these highly social animals has been threatened by the massive economic and social changes in Japan over the last century.

While in the past macaque communities were disrupted by traditional land clearing and farming techniques, today it is principally modern urban expansion that threatens their existence and brings them into potential conflict with humans. As urban dwellers and macaques come into ever closer contact the primates have tended to become more socialized and lose their fear of people.

A cute nuisance

Although macaques and humans losing their mutual fear may seem like a good thing, it has also lead to problems. Like all animals that adapt to human proximity, the Japanese macaque can see opportunities for feeding that may not be acceptable to most city dwellers. If you live in a big city near a coastline you may have experienced a cheeky seagull snatching your lunch out from underneath your nose. Some travelers will be familiar with bears in national parks or even packs of dogs in large cities scavenging for food. It can be quite intimidating and even dangerous if the animals are working in groups.

In Japan the macaque is widespread and throughout Japanese history has often been seen as a nuisance. In rural areas, they were and still are known to eat crops and are a pest akin to the fox, crow, rabbit, or other animals that pilfer the farmer's livestock and produce. On other occasions, these cheeky and clever animals have been known to enter homes foraging for food and in a short amount of time can leave a house trashed in.

Most recent attacks

It is in the western part of Japan however that the situation has of late become more extreme. Not content with pilfering stored goods and snacks, gangs of marauding monkeys have become more brazen. This has even led to both adults and children being injured by the raiding parties. The southern prefecture of Yamaguchi, known for its beautiful weather and spectacular coastline has been in the firing line more than most from these attacks. The area is mountainous and Yamaguchi city, the regional capital is surrounded by this kind of wild terrain.

While there have been attacks in the past, this year has seen a spike in incidents and not only in volume but also in the ferocity of the assaults and the nature of the victims. In the past, if you were given a fright by a screeching monkey extending a paw into your Bento box it could be laughed off, but recently people have been coming away from the encounters with bite marks, scratches, and other lesions. Understandably, people are worried, the situation has become serious enough that local authorities are beginning to pay attention to the matter.

What the authorities are doing

While the monkeys are a pest, nobody is blaming them for these problems. Human populations have continued to expand dramatically so of course the natural habitats and food sources of the macaques have been disturbed. Nevertheless, something needs to be done. Monkeys have been seen entering homes by pushing open windows and moving sliding door panels. Residents are naturally concerned about being bitten and particularly about babies and toddlers who could potentially suffer life-threatening injuries.

In one story that made national news in Japan this year a father heard his child crying in another room. When he rushed to help he saw a macaque hunched over his child ready to strike. In another, a monkey entered a second-floor kindergarten classroom and a 4-year-old child received several scratches. The authorities have now begun patrolling the streets to prevent attacks and scare the monkeys away, but obviously, a long-term solution needs to be found that will not only make sure the macaques are protected but also keep local people safe.