Alpha female shows male macaques who’s boss
A HARD-FIGHTING female macaque has assumed control of a 677-strong troop of monkeys in a nature reserve in Japan, a highly unusual development in the male-dominated simian world.
Nine-year-old Yakei began its rise to alpha status in April, when keepers at the Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Gardens, in the southern city of Oita, witnessed it attacking its mother.
Not content with its new position as the dominant female in the larger of the nature reserve’s two macaque troops, it switched its attentions to Nanchu, the long-established alpha male.
In late June, Yakei squared up to the 31-year-old, who had been the undisputed leader for around five years, and saw its rival off with its tail between its legs. Over the following month, keepers noted that Nanchu was careful to avoid Yakei, apparently out of fear of its 22lb assailant.
To test suggestions that Nanchu had been usurped, wardens carried out a “peanut test” in late June, leaving out nuts for the troop and observing which ate first. They were surprised to find that Nanchu backed away from the food and let Yakei eat first, a sure indication of its position in the troop’s hierarchy.
Keepers have also noticed a clear change in Yakei’s behaviour as it adopts the unmistakable characteristics of an alpha male macaque.
It has taken to walking with its tail held upright, a common trait in dominant males. Another new characteristic is climbing trees and violently shaking the branches, a demonstration of power among simians and considered to be extremely rare behaviour among females.
Officials told the Mainichi newspaper that it was the first time that a female macaque had led a troop at the reserve since it first opened in 1953.
“Normally, female monkeys do not stand up against males,” Tadatoshi Shimomura, a zoo official, said. “I have no idea why she became number one. The world of macaques may be changing”.