Snow monkeys line up in the form of the Japanese script for “saru” (monkey) in Sumoto, Hyogo Prefecture, on Feb. 15 as they eat food laid out on the ground in the shape of the characters. The capacity to form the “monkey letters” is unique to the troop on Awajishima island, whose members can eat together irrespective of their ranks. (Takaharu Yagi) SUMOTO, Hyogo Prefecture--While large groups of humans have been discouraged against eating together during the COVID-19 pandemic, a troop of snow monkeys living here on Awajishima island are under no such restriction. Monkeys at the Awajishima Monkey Center in Sumoto, Hyogo Prefecture, were seen huddling up and beginning to eat together as soon as food was laid out on the ground by an employee.