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E - I - FUKUDA Yukihiro (48) More files...

Japanese macaques are famous for their love of hot spas in winter, but photographer Yukihiro Fukuda is the first to document their journey throughout the rest of the year.

Fukuda spent twelve months in the field photographing the macaques in Japan's Jigokudani Valley, where snow covers the ground for one third of the year. His images reveal what happens to the world's most northerly primates after the snow melts - from spring among the cherry blossoms to mating season in the autumn forest.

Fukuda trained as a vet before turning his hand to nature photography and has been documenting macaques in Japan for over eight years. His images have been highly commended in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

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Yukihiro Fukuda / Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} groups walking along snow trail after heavy snow, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

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Yukihiro Fukuda / Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} groups walking along snow trail in deep snow, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

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Yukihiro Fukuda / Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} snow crystals on monkey's forehead, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

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Yukihiro Fukuda / Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} male in snow, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} group of monkeys bathing in hot springs, water at 40 degrees, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

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Yukihiro Fukuda / Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} group of monkeys bathing in hot springs, water at 40 degrees, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

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Yukihiro Fukuda / Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} group of monkeys bathing in hot springs, water at 40 degrees, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

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Yukihiro Fukuda / Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} two monkeys grooming in hot springs, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} 8-month-old monkey bathing in hot springs, water at 40 degrees, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

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Yukihiro Fukuda / Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} 8-month-old monkey bathing in hot springs, water at 40 degrees, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

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Yukihiro Fukuda / Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} two one-year-old females embrace each other, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} 7-month-old monkey bathing in hot springs, scratching its head, water at 40 degrees, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

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Yukihiro Fukuda / Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} 7-month-old monkey bathing in hot springs, scratching its head, water at 40 degrees, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} adult female bathing in hot springs tapping the water surface with hand in play, water at 40 degrees, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

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Yukihiro Fukuda / Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} adult female bathing in hot springs tapping the water surface with hand in play, water at 40 degrees, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} 8-month-old monkey walking through thick snow on hind legs to keep hands warmer, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan

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Yukihiro Fukuda / Japanese macaque / Snow monkey {Macaca fuscata} 8-month-old monkey walking through thick snow on hind legs to keep hands warmer, Jigokudani, Nagano, Japan