As for the hairy bird, I hadn’t thought about the Kiwi. What first came to my mind was the Nightjar (Sometimes called a, wait-for-it…Goatsucker), which possess rictal bristles which project from the mouth. Oddly enough, Nightjars are cryptids themselves in Jamaica and Cuba, where 2 supposedly extinct endemic species are rumoured to survive.

First, here’s why I think these might NOT be Japanese macaques. To start, while some may exhibit fairly red faces, I wouldn’t go as far as to say that they typically have a “bright red face”. The coloration of their faces actually tends more towards a pinkish hue, although of course there is individual variation. A consistent description of a “bright red” face to me just does not indicate the most typical coloration for this species, although I’ll admit that one person’s pink could be another’s red, and witness perception could account for this.

Another thing I find doesn’t fit typical macaque behavior is the claim that these mystery monkeys live high in trees and mostly eat tree fruit. I don’t know if this is where they are supposed to solely live, but I get that feeling from the article. Japanese macaques, in fact, could be called “semi-terrestrial” and spend a good deal of time on the ground as well as in trees. Interestingly, it is the females that spend more time in the trees and males that spend more time on the ground. Regardless, they are not strictly arboreal animals. As to their diet, Japanese macaques are not specialized or finicky eaters at all, and will eat an incredible variety of foods, from fruit to roots dug up from the ground, anything that they can get their hands on really. Considering that their diet is so diverse, the description of these mystery monkeys subsisting on fruit high up in the trees doesn’t match up. Of course I have no way of knowing from the description given if these mystery monkeys eat ONLY fruit way up in the trees, but I can say that would likely not be all a Japanese macaque would be eating.

On the other hand, Japanese macaques are very hardy animals and can survive quite well in a range of climates and environments. They can inhabit anywhere from subtropical forests to the freezing temperatures of Hokkaido and endure wild seasonal temperature swings quite well. Add that adaptability to their tendency to eat just about anything, and I think if some were to get loose in the Philippines I have no doubt that they would flourish there. Also, macaques are quite often kept as pets in Japan and are popular as performing animals. I can easily imagine some finding their way to the Philippines through either the pet trade from the not so distant Japan, or from escaped performing animals brought over to give shows.

All in all, from what I see in this article, there just isn’t enough information for me to really make any kind of serious call on the possible identity of the mystery monkeys. The article’s description of their behavior and morphology is too brief to do much with. For the reasons I have given, I have my doubts that the mystery animals are Japanese macaques, but I will grant that this is a possibility.

Maybe the Japanese Snow Monkeys are snowbirds?

I did a quick Google but I didn’t find anything. It would be great if this were yet another cryptid animal finally recognized by scientific zoology

So true, so true!!!

Never dismiss native folklore.

“Normal” explanations have their place. But there’s too much evidence that we simply Overlook Stuff for me to say, out of hand, that that’s it.