Snow Monkeys
A Zegrahm
Eco-Expeditions trip to Japan in February 2005, took us to the Island of
Honshu and a visit to Jigokudani in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture
with the resident Japanese Macaques (Snow Monkeys). A hike up a mile
and a quarter snow, ice and mud covered trail carrying all our clothing
and equipment brought us to a traditional country inn (Ryokan) for two
days in the midst of the wild macaque troops inhabiting the region. The
only primate other than man dwelling so far north, these monkeys have
learned the advantages of geothermally heated pools in a park built for
them and occasionally use the same baths we do. Habituated to people,
they generally have little objection to having cameras thrust at them,
and the accompanying images represent some of my results in their
domain.
Sleeping on
futon covered
tatami mats, eating exotic foods at tables requiring us to sit on the
floor, downloading and processing images either prone on the floor or at
similarly low tea tables and bathing nearly naked, covered only by a
dish towel sized "modesty" towel, in geothermal springs with
Japanese macaques were only a few unforgettable experiences we had
there. The most compelling takeaway experience was the intimacy of
interacting with these animals with whom we share so much DNA and, more
surprisingly to me, so much in the way of common emotional experiences.
