A hearty hello to all of our loyal readers near and far!
It's still very much wintertime in the mountains and valleys of Nagano. Ski resorts around the prefecture are enjoying records dumps powder snow and, as a result, an unprecedented influx of Australians.
Kamikochi remains closed, with only local wildlife around to liven the mood.
Finding ourselves with little in the way of current news to report, we'll instead be sharing the insights of a Japanese language column from the ever-reliable Five Sense Kamikochi blog. Last week, columnist Natsu posted an article discussing the some of the more surprising aspects of the local monkey population as well as the potential dangers of encountering wild animals in the park.
Kamikochi is of course home to numerous wildlife species, from furry snow monkeys to mallards who spend the winter paddling around in freezing water.
Of all the species, the one with which you are most likely to encounter is the nihonzaru (ニホンザル) or Japanese macaque. This species of old world monkey is native to Japan with about 250 residing in Kamikochi. The local population consists of numerous communities known as "tribes" or "troops," with their own social structures and hierarchies.
While they spend most of their time in the woods, monkeys will sometimes venture onto the footpaths used by human visitors to the park.
So What Makes our Monkeys Different?
Before diving into the practical considerations of how to avoid bust-ups with physically powerful and sometimes excitable primates, let's take a quick look at some of their unique qualities.
Winter Warriors
To begin with, the monkeys in Kamikochi are said to inhabit the coldest climate of all monkey species on the planet. Globally, monkeys are far more likely to inhabit warmer areas nearer to the equator, making cold weather species a rarity. Among cold weather monkeys, Kamikochi's macaques endure the most frigid climes of all. Even the famed macaques of Aomori Prefecture don't live in in quite as cold an environment. Toughing out -20 degree temperatures year after year has naturally made them a hardy lot.
Pescatarian Primates
Also unusual for monkeys is the Kamikochi macaques' habit of eating fish, a practice so rare as to be almost unheard of. Left to their own devices, monkeys prefer to subsist on a vegetarian diet mostly consisting of berries, grass, mushrooms and the like. But when these options grow scarce in the winter, monkeys must supplement their diet with high-protein fish to nourish their bodies and keep some fat on their bones. And they appear to have a acquired a taste for seafood as they have even been seen consuming fish in the warmer months!
Alpine Adepts
Kamikochi's macaques are also known for venturing high above the tree lines of surrounding mountains in search of food, especially in the summer when seasonal vegetation offers a tempting treat. This adaptive behavior showcases the primates' ability to survive and thrive in a wide variety of challenging environments.
Close Encounters of the Dodgy Kind
Now, it's time to get down to brass tacks. How should you behave around monkeys and other wildlife to ensure a harmonious experience and avoid danger?
Don't Feed Them!
This is actually one of the cardinal rules of Kamikochi. While it may seem like common sense not to give food to wildlife, it has been ignored with alarming frequency over the years. What's more, it's possible to feed animals without intended to, either by leaving food items unattended or dropping them on the trail. Thoughtless actions like this both disturb the natural environment and embolden animals to target you food. Once a monkey has sampled the culinary delights of a tuna onigiri or even a humble egg salad sandwich, they will quickly set their beady little eyes on the people who carry them. They may even attack you with the aim of taking your food, so beware!
Do Not Approach Them
Generally speaking, the wild animals of Kamikochi will not bother you if you don't bother them. However, monkeys in particular are very territorial and could become alarmed at any sign of someone encroaching on their territory. So keep your distance and avoid doing anything provocative. And yes, that potentially includes making eye contact.
You may be tempted to snap a few pictures of any macaques that you spot along the path. If you do, please be sure to do it discretely and from a distance. An put that selfie stick away. Monkey selfies are a REALLY BAD IDEA.
And with that, we conclude our look at the most mercurial denizens of Kamikochi. We hope that you have found it informative and helpful. In preparing this article, I also consulted a number of other piece I've posted over the years, So if you're still hungry for monkey-related content, you can read those pieces here, here, and here.
Thanks again to Natsu and all of the other bloggers at five sense for posting the info and images that make my job easy.
Till next time!
Source of Information:
Nature Guide Five Sense, Kamikochi blog: https://fivesense.guide/blog/column/138461/
