The Amazing Story Behind Japan’s Bathing Monkeys

Have you ever wondered why Japan’s snow monkeys spend their winters soaking in hot springs? ❄️

. Discover why in this neat educational kids video! Their story is as heartwarming as their unique behaviour🐒

How Did the Snow Monkeys Start Bathing?

The amazing history behind why Snow Monkeys started bathing us dated back to 1963.

A curious monkey decided to hop into a hotel’s hot spring, joining human visitors for a warm soak.

Soon, more macaques followed. But this caused trouble for the humans.

The solution? Build a hot spring just for the monkeys! This led to the creation of a park where these unique behaviors could thrive.

Why Do Snow Monkeys Bathe?

Scientists have been studying these monkeys to understand their behaviour. Here’s what they found:

* Staying warm:
Bathing likely helps them escape the cold.

* Lower stress:
Monkeys’ stress hormones (glucocorticoids) drop during their hot spring sessions.

* Social dynamics:
Higher-ranking females enjoy longer, more frequent soaks than lower-ranking monkeys.

This behavior isn’t just practical—it’s cultural! Over generations, this troop of macaques has passed down the tradition of soaking in hot springs, making it a unique aspect of their social life.

What do you think these monkeys ponder while they soak?  🌟T

his kids educational video was created by ScienceTake – The New York Times. Check out their YouTube channel for more great content!

Looking For More Educational Kids Videos?

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It’s packed full of educational videos for kids!

For another “cool” video we cold suggest recommend Where Does Frost Come From?

Or encourage some grid mapping skills with this Free Printable Penguin Grid Coordination Worksheet.