New study finds snow monkeys get mental health benefits from spa days
Japan's female snow monkey population: They're just like us!
Japan's female snow monkey population: They're just like us!
Japan's female snow monkey population: They're just like us!
A new study published in finds Japan's macaques, commonly known as "snow monkeys," have not only been visiting the Jigokudani Monkey Park and its hot springs for decades because they are cold and want to be hot, but also because "taking a spa [day] reduced stress hormone" levels. Specifically, female snow monkeys found major mental health benefits to hanging out by the water.
Per the research, scientists began studying a group of 12 of these female monkeys at the hot springs in 2014 after noticing they frequented the park. Upon analyzing their waste, the researchers found a 20 percent drop in their glucocorticoid hormone numbers after the monkeys enjoyed the park.
Lead researcher Rafaela Takeshita , “This indicates that, as in humans, the hot spring has a stress-reducing effect in snow monkeys.” The team also found that all the humans who gathered around to watch the monkeys bathe and chill had no affect on how stressed they were.
Read the study in full .