March
The snow is now slowly melting under a spring-like sun. Following the monkeys becomes even trickier; at first we would sink in the snow but as it got cold the ground became hard ice making it easy to keep up. Now, as everything unfreezes, a lot of it becomes muddy swamps! But it also offers a new sight to see them blend it perfectly in the current environmental colour palette.
We are getting more and more familiar with them which is a rewarding and comforting feeling. We not only recognise them but also start to better understand their personality - on a perfectly subjective level; who is rather shy, who is always grumpy and who doesn’t mind being close to us. The Affenberg group is used to humans; they see the researchers in the winter and the summer brings the visitors who can walk around delimited paths during guided tours.
Japanese macaques have a strong hierarchy with clear linear rank orders but they also display strong bonds, especially with their kins (family-related individuals). Seeing them sunbathing while being groomed by a mother, a son, an aunt is really a relaxing sight. And if anything, the juveniles playing and running around are always hilarious or excessively cute.
Well, looks like winter isn’t over after all.
Just as we thought we were going into spring it started snowing and getting cold again. But don’t worry, our Japanese macaques are not cold - in fact, they are also called "snow monkeys”! For us it gives a better appreciation of the hot chocolate when going home after a day in the field.
