Synopsis

In 1970, a striking image of a snow monkey luxuriating in a natural hot spring appeared on the cover of Life Magazine. Since then, these primates known for their fondness of warm springs have been afforded protection and regular feeding, largely to entertain visitors and satisfy photographers – they’ve become celebrated figures within the global understanding of wildlife. Yet, despite this unique lifestyle bringing renown, the majority of Japan's snow monkeys face vastly different circumstances,