Japan Monkey Centre
A Window to Nature
The Japan Monkey Centre (JMC) was founded in 1956 for primate research and conservation. Its other main goal is to give all interested people a wealth of information on their closest relatives. The Japan Monkey Centre runs a unique zoo housing the world's largest number of nonhuman primate species and attracts visitors from all over the world.
Our history
Japanese Macaques at JMC
From the observation platform, you can see about 140 Japanese macaques, showing the behavior of washing sweet potatoes and other food in a pond. They put the sweet potatoes inside the water and rub them against rocks.
Sweet potato washing in Japanese macaques was first observed in a natural troop in Koshima Islet, Japan, and was regarded as a pre-cultural behavior (Kawai, 1965). Though rubbing behavior is quite common in macaques (Torigoe, 1985), the behavior of rubbing objects inside the water which the monkeys in JMC show is rare and interesting. It can be easily observed when monkeys are given food. You may also see other interesting behaviors like Saru-dango, tool use, and noise making with stones.
From the late December until the end of January, on weekends and holidays, our Japanese macaques warm themselves by a real bonfire. The tradition of lighting bonfires for the monkeys began in 1959, after Japanese macaques were observed to gather around the fires lit by staff to burn fallen trees following the Isewan Typhoon. This new ‘bonfireseason’ soon became established as a well-known and cherished attraction of JMC.
Please come and enjoy!
Former-JMC Monkeys in Chicago
We are delighted to learn that the eight former-JMC monkeys are very contented in their new home. We sincerely wish that the monkeys become a symbol of the friendship and collaboration between United States and Japan. For more info, please visit snowmonkeys.org
January 22, 2015
The eight Japanese macaques have moved to Lincoln Park Zoo from JMC. They are now exploring their new exhibit. Photo ©Todd Rosenberg / Lincoln Park Zoo
September 20, 2015
A Former-JMC Monkey Rearing Her Infant in Chicago
Dr. Lydia Hopper, Assistant Director of the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, sent an enchanting photo of Japanese macaque Ono and her son, Obu. She gave birth to Obu on May 2nd, 2015.
March 18, 2016
Izumi, A Former-JMC Monkey Became A Mother
A baby Japanese macaque was born March 18, 2016 at Regenstein Macaque Forest, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago. Congratulations! See adorable photos of the baby cuddling with Izumi on http://www.lpzoo.org/
Photos © Jillian Braun / Lincoln Park Zoo
One of our foremost goals is to introduce visitors to the world of wild nonhuman primates. The JMC sends members of staff to many different locations where populations of nonhuman primates live in the wild. For example, all JMC staff, including administrative staff, have visited Koshima Island and Yakushima Island to observe Japanese monkeys living in the wild. These experiences make a big difference. Through watching wild nonhuman primates in their natural habitat, we can gather ideas on how best to enhance our captive animals' living environments.
It is unavoidable that there is difference between any captive environment and the wild. However, we do our absolute best to provide the next best environment, as close as possible to that of their wild counterparts.