Japanese snow monkeys coming to Lincoln Park Zoo

Not long after the winter snow finally has departed Chicago, snow monkeys are coming to Lincoln Park Zoo.

Eight snow monkeys — also known as Japanese macaques — will be on display in the new Regenstein Macaque Forest, set to open to the public April 2.

The five female and three male snow monkeys came from the Japan Monkey Centre in Inuyama, Japan.

The snow monkeys have been getting used to their new environment for several weeks, taking dips in the hot spring, climbing trees and warming themselves on hot rocks.

Scientists at the zoo’s Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study & Conservation of Apes are preparing to study the macaques, including having them operate touch-screen computers.

“These studies will help scientists understand more about how the monkeys think, learn and feel and provide valuable mental activity for the monkeys themselves,” according to the zoo.

If you don’t have time for a trip to the zoo, you can chec out the snow monkeys on a real-time webcam stream that will go live April 2.