A Hierarchy of Japanese Macaques
In A Hierarchy of Japanese Macaques, these monkeys native to Japan are trying to survive the harsh Japanese winter. They seek out a thermal spa, then primate politics comes into play. This video is excerpted from BBC's Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
Lesson Express
Q: The narrator describes Japanese macaques as adaptable and clever. What other words would you use to describe them?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may talk about the hierarchy structure or how the monkeys exclude other monkeys.
Q: What makes the spa perfect for the macaques?
A: The water temperature is warm during the freezing winter.
Q: What did you learn about how Japanese macaque society is organized?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may mention that Japanese macaques exclude each other or that higher ranking monkeys get more than lower ranking monkeys.
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