What is the Monkey Chasing Squad in Japan?

The Monkey Chasing Squad is a group of about 50 paid, part-time civil servants in Japan's Northern Alps who try to control the monkey population and keep them away from farms and homes.

What is Takumi Matsuda's role in the monkey issue in Azumino, Japan?

Takumi Matsuda is a local resident of Azumino who has gained over 60,000 followers on Instagram for his photos and videos of the monkeys in their natural habitat. He opposes the wasteful killing of monkeys and wants to see effective, long-term measures to manage the population.

Home / Environment / Monkey Patrol: Japan's Unique Approach to Protecting Farms and Homes

Monkey Patrol: Japan's Unique Approach to Protecting Farms and Homes

Q: How much crop damage do monkeys cause in Japan?

According to the article, in 2022, Japan's Agriculture Ministry reported total crop damage from wild animals, including monkeys, at 15.6 billion yen ($100 million), with deer, wild boars, and macaques causing about 70% of that damage.

12 Nov

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Summary

Part-time civil servants use bells, whistles, and sticks to herd monkeys away from farms and homes
Monkeys cause $100 million in crop damage annually, with deer, boars, and macaques responsible for 70% of it
Efforts to cull monkeys may have made the problem worse, as neighboring groups move in

Monkey Patrol: Japan's Unique Approach to Protecting Farms and Homes

As of November 2025, in the foothills of Japan's Northern Alps, a team of part-time civil servants is working tirelessly to keep monkeys away from farms and homes. Equipped with bright orange vests, bells, whistles, and walking sticks, they weave through the bamboo and brush, following the monkeys' movements using GPS trackers and radioing their teammates to herd the animals back into the mountains.

The monetary damage caused by the monkeys is relatively minor compared to losses from boar, deer, and crows, but they have become a growing nuisance for people living near the mountains. In 2022, Japan's Agriculture Ministry reported total crop damage from wild animals, including monkeys, at 15.6 billion yen ($100 million), with deer, wild boars, and macaques responsible for about 70% of that damage.