This program takes place in Tambasasayama City, where participants will search for wild Japanese macaques. Currently, there are five groups of Japanese macaques inhabiting Tambasasayama. While these groups occasionally appear in farmland, causing crop damage, their primary living space is within the forests of Tambasasayama. Where do these macaques usually reside? Using a radio telemetry system, we will attempt to track down the macaques in the forest.

Life of the Japanese Macaque

Japanese macaques live in groups ranging from 10 to 100 individuals. Within a territory spanning a few to several dozen square kilometers, they feed on a variety of seasonal foods: leaves and flowers in spring and summer, fruits and nuts in autumn, and bark during winter. These macaques often live near human settlements and may consume crops from fields.

Tracking the Unseen with Radio Waves!

Macaques often stay in remote mountain areas, making it challenging to spot them directly. The secret tool to locate these elusive macaques is the radio telemetry system. Each of the five groups in Tambasasayama is equipped with a radio transmitter. By skillfully using antennas and receivers, we can trace macaques through radio signals, even when they are hidden from view.

Witnessing Crop Damage?

With some luck, you might spot macaques near the fields. For macaques living in the mountains, farmlands are attractive locations with plenty of delicious food, but for farmers, macaques in the fields represent a significant nuisance. How can humans and wildlife coexist? Let's observe the actual sites and reflect on the relationship between humans and wildlife.