Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

2014. 06, 20
Affiliation/Position

Primate Research Institute/D1

Name

Rafaela Sayuri Cicalise Takeshita

1. Country/location of visit
Jigokudani, Nagano prefecture, Japan
2. Research project
Hormonal profile of free-ranging Japanese macaques: effects of environment, social behavior and reproductive
3. Date (departing from/returning to Japan)
2014.04.02 – 2014. 06. 10 (69 days)
4. Main host researcher and affiliation
Mr. Haruo Takehushi, Director of Jigokudani Monkey Park
5. Progress and results of your research/activity (You can attach extra pages if needed)
Please insert one or more pictures (to be publicly released). Below each picture, please provide a brief description.

I conducted a study at Jigokudani Monkey Park as part of my PhD research. Everyday I went to the park to collectbehavioral observations and fecal samples from 18 adult Japanese monkeys (12 females and 6 males). This researchintends to achieve the following aims: (1) Investigate hormonal profile of free-ranging Japanese macaques and changes
with biological (age, gender, and reproductive state), environmental (season, climate) and social factors (behavior,dominance hierarchy), and (2) Compare the hormonal profile of Japanese macaques in their natural habitat (Jigokudani,Japan) with a group of free-ranging Japanese macaques living in a large outdoor mesquite bush, desert habitat (Texas,
USA - data collection in July), as well as with individuals living in captivity (PRI - previous study).
Through this visit, I was able to improve my fieldwork skills, Japanese language (very important!) and Japanese culture.
I also developed a better image of wild Japanese monkeys. In the past, I have worked with captive monkeys at PRI, andI did notice that they are somehow different. Jigokudani group is larger (about 160 individuals), and it is interesting tosee how they move in an open environment, and how they seem to have a fixed spot according to the hierarchy position.
The most famous feature of Jigokudani monkeys that distinguish them from the other groups is the fact that they bath at
the hot spring - built exclusively for them at the park (Figure 1). It is the only place where I could see monkeys diving
in order to get food (Figure 2). But this is not the only attraction of the park. Some monkeys are quite clever and seemto have developed cognitive abilities, such as using a stick to retrieve food from a plastic tube (Figure 2-A) or picking
up beans thrown by the staff in the air (Figure 2-B). However, in my opinion, the most remarkable characteristic ofthese animals is that they are extraordinarily habituated to humans. They got very close to me so many times while I
was observing them (Figure 3).
In addition, during this field season I was able to see a lot of newborn infants. In total, 33 infants were born this year
(Figure 4). Like their mothers, they are not afraid of humans at all. Unfortunately, one of them died, and the interesting
fact is that the mother kept carrying it around for almost 20 days (Figure 5).
The conditions of the field were very good. The hosts at the Ryokan I stayed at were very kind and supportive, and did
everything they could to help me to continue my study until the end. I really recommend Shimaya Ryokan if you evervisit the place. The staff of the park were very helpful, provided useful information about the monkeys, and thanks tothem, I successfully collected approximately 230 hours of behavioral observation and 300 fecal samples, which havebeen already sent to PRI and stored at -20ºC until further analysis.
This was the first of two study periods at Jigokudani. I am planning to return to the field during fall/winter to collect
more data and then be able to look at seasonal changes. All the data will be processed and analyzed in the beginning of2015. The results obtained with this study will provide us information about the biology of Japanese macaques, andthey can be useful to improve the management of captive animals and to monitor the environmental conditions infree-ranging monkeys.

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2014.05.27 version

Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

6. Others

Figure 1. Japanese monkeys bathing at the hot spring

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2014.05.27 version

Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

Figure 2. Japanese monkey diving to get food at the hot spring

Figure 3. (A) Adult female Japanese monkey using a stick to retrieve food from a plastic tube; (B) Adult female
Japanese monkey picking up beans in the air thrown by the staff

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2014.05.27 version

Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

Figure 4. Female Japanese monkey approached me while I was collecting data. Tempting, but I did not touch her.
Could not resist taking a picture though.

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2014.05.27 version

Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

Figure 5. Two babies (approximately 1 month-old) playing

Figure 6. Adult female Japanese monkey with her dead baby
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2014.05.27 version

Research Activity Report
Supported by “Leading Graduate Program in Primatology and Wildlife Science”(Please be sure to submit this report after the trip that supported by PWS.)

Submit to：report@wildlife-science.org

2014.05.27 version