National Geographic Resolution arrived at Yakushima Island with the warmth and ocean breezes of a semi-tropical island. The spiraling mountains, in contrast, are home to temperate and even sup-alpine habitats. A short bus ride through winding forest roads led to ancient Yakusugi cedar trees dripping with luxurious mosses.
Along the track we encountered the mysterious forest denizens, the enigmatic Japanese snow monkeys. Covered in a thick wooly coat, these macaques are ideally adapted to life in the wet and frigid forests. Their red faces and short tails set them apart from the majority of their Asiatic cousins.
The troop of monkeys went about their daily business despite the intrusion of their bipedal relatives. We witnessed social grooming, which not only helps keep the primates free of parasites, but additionally helps reinforce critical social bonds. A mother carried her wide-eyed infant on her back, while another young cousin follows closely behind. The troop of monkeys is like a mobile kindergarten weaving through the forest with new life lessons at every stop. With food on their mind, the restless primates sauntered back into the depths of their forest home, leaving behind a glimpse of their mysterious world.
