Town in Kanagawa struggling with violent gang of monkeys

A group of misbehaving Japanese macaques is causing trouble in Yugawara, a town in Kanagawa Prefecture. These primates, part of what's known as "T1" troop, have been involved in numerous incidents of violence, theft, and vandalism. The troop, made up of 20 monkeys, has been causing problems since 1955, but it's only recently that their behavior has become particularly aggressive.

In 2025 alone, they were responsible for 6,054 incidents. Last month, a man in his 40s was bitten by one of the monkeys for the first time in the area's history, marking a concerning trend.

Experts are unsure why the monkeys have started behaving this way, but they believe a past event may have triggered their recent antisocial behavior. Some suspect that the monkeys are moving from their usual homes in the treetops to more comfortable abandoned houses on the outskirts of town, due to Japan's declining population. A survey found 433 such homes in Yugawara.

To manage the situation, the monkey control center has attached GPS trackers to two alpha males in the troop, which will help dispatch teams to remove the primates from dangerous areas.

Yugawara's economy heavily relies on tourism, with visitors coming to enjoy its hot springs, traditional inns, and autumn orange-picking. However, residents are worried that the aggressive monkeys may scare tourists away. Online readers expressed sympathy for the residents and called for better animal control measures. Some suggested more drastic solutions, like introducing wolves to control the monkey population.

If the problem persists, T1 may be classified as an "unmanageable troop," requiring live trapping and euthanizing of members until the troop is completely broken up. This is a concerning thought, as it raises questions about the long-term impact of this escalating issue.