Japanese Macaque

Being omnivores, Japanese macaques prefer fruit, berries and nuts. They also eat mushrooms, insects, snails, crustaceans and bird eggs when these are available. In winter, they survive mainly on fat reserves and feed on bark and buds.

They're probably the most studied primate species in the world. Among other observations, researchers watched a young macaque wash sand-covered pieces of sweet potatoes that the scientists had thrown on the beach to lure them out of the forest. This behaviour was then adopted by the other members of the group.

They live in groups of 20 to 100 individuals, in a matrilineal organization, around a dominant female. They're all related and never leave the group in which they were born. The males gravitate around the group and their hierarchical system is much more subject to change.

Confined to certain Japanese islands, Japanese macaque populations have enjoyed a high level of protection, especially since they were declared a " Natural Treasure of the Nations " in 1970. But deforestation of their habitat, and occasional conflicts with humans, threaten their long-term survival.