Snow Monkeys
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Rapidly expanding human populations in Japan are encroaching into the forests and converting them to agricultural uses. This leads to conflict between farmers and macaques, which usually end in the macaques being removed from the area. Japanese macaques are currently considered a threatened species.
Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys, are the most northern-ranging of all non-human primates. They live in the forests of most of the islands of the Japanese archipelago. They feed on fruits, nuts, leaves and bark. Cold winters don't phase macaques, some have taken to sitting in local hot springs to keep warm. The snow monkey exhibit was dramatically updated in 1995 with the addition of live trees, natural substrate, a waterfall and coldwater pool and a hottub.
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