image credit: telegraph.co.uk
image credit: travelinggreener.com
image credit: pixelchrome.comHabitat: Japan
Do you believe in Reincarnation? I'm not sure if I do but I am sure that if it exists, I'm going to start praying that I come back as a Japanese Macaque, a.k.a. a Snow Monkey. Would you just look at these guys?! Their life consists of relaxing in natural hot springs found in Snow Monkey park (very aptly named). The first monkey to try out the luxurious bathtubs went by the name of Mukubili. The younger members of her troop then followed her in and the rest, as they say, is history.
Japanese Macaques are quite interesting & have become the subjects of much scientific research. It seems that they invent new behaviors and then pass them down through generations by imitation. For example, young snow monkeys have learned how to make snow balls - which serve no survival purpose - to throw at each other and have some FuN!
Another brilliant example of snow monkey ingenuity is described as follows:
Here's a wonderful clip of the Snow Monkeys enjoying their baths & playing with snowballs!
Japanese Macaques are quite interesting & have become the subjects of much scientific research. It seems that they invent new behaviors and then pass them down through generations by imitation. For example, young snow monkeys have learned how to make snow balls - which serve no survival purpose - to throw at each other and have some FuN!
Another brilliant example of snow monkey ingenuity is described as follows:
"Potato washing by a troop in Koshima was first started by a one and a half year old female named Imo. Researchers would put sweet potatoes along the beach to bring the monkeys out in the open. Imo found that she could get the sand off the potato better by dipping it into the river water, rather than brushing it off with her hands, like the other monkeys were doing. Her brothers and sisters imitated her first and then their mother. Over time the entire troop took to washing sand off potatoes with river water. At first they simply washed the sand off, but Imo soon found that the potatoes tasted better if seasoned with salt water from the ocean. They began to bite into the potato then dip it into the sea water to season it and bite again."
Imo was apparently the Einstein of the Japanese Macaques. I want to be the next Imo when I get reincarnated!!!! Actually, that seems like a lot of work having to be all "revolutionary." Eh, I'll just sit on my ass in the hot springs. Muuuuch Better.
Here's a wonderful clip of the Snow Monkeys enjoying their baths & playing with snowballs!
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5 comments:
Okay put me on the list - I also want to come back as one of these! What wonderful photographs and what a great lifestyle!
hot springs and snow balls?? oh these monkeys know how to "live the life"! :)
speaking of monkeys, i'd like to share this article with you from treehugger.com. it's about a macaque monkey adopting a kitten in Indonesian forest. :) http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/08/monkey-adopts-kitten-in-indonesian-forest.php
hope you like it. ^^,
btw, i posted your link on Treehugger's facebook account. ^^,
Hello deary!
Your posts are very nice. I loved it. The life of any kind of living being and its facets are always intriguing.
I follow you. I can add your Blog on my list of Favorite Blogs?
I wish you peace and success!
Absolutely loved that post.
Just wish we had hot springs in Norway..
haha my favorite... after akon of course
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