The annual campfire began on December 20 for some 140 Yakushima macaques – a subspecies of Japanese monkey – and will also take place on December 21, the day of the winter solstice.
The annual campfire began on December 20 for some 140 Yakushima macaques – a subspecies of Japanese monkey – and will also take place on December 21, the day of the winter solstice.
The campfire has been a zoo winter tradition for decades. After powerful Typhoon Vera (Typhoon Isewan) hit Japan in 1959, the zoo’s monkeys began gathering around a fire while staff burned driftwood and scrap wood to warm their bodies. Other monkeys eventually overcame their caution and approached the fire. During this event, many macaques can be seen yawning while warming up.
Sweet potatoes are cooked at this campfire and the monkeys are treated to a sizzling feast at 2 p.m.