Armed with a snowball

For our special Christmas day post, we found a rather lovely fact about Japanese Macaque monkeys….

Young Macaques have been seen to make and throw snowballs, just like people do! Scientists could find no reason why they would do this, other than simply because it is fun!

Not only that, but back in the 1960s, these Japanese Macaques saw their human counterparts bathing in hot springs, and must have decided that this was a great idea. In the freezing temperatures they endure, a hot tub seems to be a relaxing and enjoyable social occasion.

Just another little similarity between different species – it seems many like to have fun, whether we have fur, feathers or plain old human clothes…

Wishing you a Compassionate Christmas!

Sources:

Uhlenbrook, C. (2008) Animal life the definitive visual guide to animals and their behaviour, Dorling Kindersley, London.
Primate Info Net (2009) [accessed 24 December 09)
BBC Worldwide, Monkeys Relaxing