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.

"Juvenile female macaques may first experience genital stimulation during these heterospecific playful interactions with deer playmates, then seek similar sexual reward with deer mates during the surge of sex steroid hormones characteristic of the adolescence period, particularly when sexually deprived conspecific male mates," Gunst said. Males seldom accept young females as sexual partners, therefore it's probable that the teenage female monkeys are figuring out their sexuality. But, according to the research, the most likely explanation is that female macaques are rehearsing for future sexual intercourse with male monkeys.