I'm amused to see that humans aren't the only species to enjoy a hot tub.
Most monkeys are happy swinging in the trees of tropical jungles but from the look on the face of this one there is nothing like indulging in a hot bath after a long day.
These incredible pictures are of Japanese macaques relaxing in a hot spring in Yamanouchi, central Japan.
Nicknamed the snow monkey, the cheeky-looking animals live a much chillier existence than their tropical cousins and they appear to like nothing better than keeping warm in steaming-hot pools such as this one.
The inviting-looking spring is in a ski resort town and from the incredibly human-like expressions on their faces they could almost be a group of tourists enjoying a relaxing break.
In the pictures the red-faced monkeys, who are covered in bushy brown fur, cling to rocks as they soak themselves in the warm bath with one looking so relaxed he looks as if he's yawning.
The snow monkeys are the most northerly non-human primate in the world.
Sensibly they spend the winter - when temperatures drop to below freezing and snow covers their habitat - warming up in the volcanic hot springs.
Sounds like my kind of monkeys - although I suspect sharing a hot tub with them might be an experience I'd be willing to forgo!
Peter
Gives new meaning to the phrase 'monkeying around in the hot tub.'
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