The Reason Why Some Japanese Monkeys Have Been Observed Riding Deer Is Quite Surprising (Pictures & Video)

Some Japanese monkeys, famed for enjoying hot baths in their snowy surroundings, have an unusual relationship with sika deer. Japanese monkeys, often known as macaques, have been seen riding on top of sika deer on several occasions (Cervus nippon yakushimae). In the Japanese woodlands, the two species coexist happily.

The most plausible explanation, according to the study's authors, is mate deprivation. Males who have restricted access to girls are more prone to engage in this type of activity. Another group of researchers looked at the strange conduct that Japanese monkeys displayed between 2012 and 2015. In total, they counted 258 monkey-deer encounters in Minoo, Japan, which is located north of Osaka. Only juvenile female macaques were seen mounting sika deer, which the researchers equated to sexual intercourse between teenage female macaques (which is very well documented).