Japanese macaques (snow monkeys) are increasingly kept in zoos globally, with welfare considerations related to their specific social, behavioral, and environmental needs.
Japanese macaque welfare in non-native zoo settings involves managing a cold-adapted species in varied global climates, with social and behavioral needs that require sophisticated husbandry. Their complex social structures mean that small captive groups fail to provide the social environment for normal behavioral expression. The cultural transmission documented in wild populations suggests cognitive complexity that demands rich environmental stimulation. Zoos in warmer climates housing Japanese macaques must manage heat stress during summer months. The welfare case for large, socially complex groups with varied enrichment and appropriate climate management is strong.