Humanity Is Ready To Bow Down To This Patriarchy-Smashing Monkey Queen
Do you hear that? That’s the sound of a new queen in town.
Yakei is the first female leader of a troop of 677 Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys, who live in Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden. The troop has made its home at the reserve for 70 years.
How Yakei got to the throne is described in gripping detail in an absolute banger of a piece by reporter Annie Roth for The New York Times. (Read that entire piece here.)
Some of the highlights of Yakei’s rise to power include her first overthrowing her own mother to become the top dog monkey among the troop’s females. Not stopping there, she then fought multiple high-ranking males ― and won ― before ultimately taking on and beating the troop’s then-leader for the highest-ranking spot.
Lest you thought the drama ended there, however, the Times also gets into how the upcoming mating season could potentially throw a wrench into the troop’s power rankings.
If you’re ready to chuck it all and pledge fealty to Yakei, well, then many people on Twitter are with you.
I serve only this queen https://t.co/14DuuaZwiA
— Lauren Hough (@laurenthehough) January 21, 2022
#ElectMoreWomenhttps://t.co/iseJah22NZ
— Rodericka Applewhaite 🛣 (@Rodericka) January 21, 2022
fuck yeah, we stan a girl boss https://t.co/vKDIBIjxN7
— Sydney Leathers (@sydneyelainexo) January 21, 2022
Ladies, the revolution starts today https://t.co/w0JCQb5AtH
— Robyn Urback (@RobynUrback) January 21, 2022
❤️ get it sweetie ❤️ https://t.co/S2lEfQ4aJt
— tanya tagaq (@tagaq) January 21, 2022
QUEEN YAKEI LONG MAY SHE REIGN 👑 #watchthethronehttps://t.co/lppoUnK9f4
— Errin Haines 😷🧼🧴💉 (@emarvelous) January 21, 2022
Others are finding themselves deeply invested in what happens next, convinced the entire situation would make an excellent series or young adult novel. (They’re right.)
Tired: Some guy Caleb ghosted 15 girls in BoCoCa
Wired: https://t.co/iDbFZG7utp— Rachel Riederer (@readerer) January 21, 2022
ok but where is it streaming i need to get caught up https://t.co/XqElNCwJSE
— booster douglas (@not_carlisle) January 21, 2022
A YA queen. https://t.co/96a3E5BbQL
— Rebecca Roanhorse is Mostly Just Updates (@RoanhorseBex) January 21, 2022
And of course, the true empaths among us are simply concerned for the besieged monkey queen.
Yakei LOOK AT ME, it’s a trap. Don’t lose your power for love, stay focused. IT’S A TRAP!! https://t.co/ra19L16Fn1
— Doreen dont miss 🦋 (@DoreenGLM) January 21, 2022
Don’t throw away the crown for trash like Goro, Yakei!!!! https://t.co/YMTW04krcV
— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) January 21, 2022
Invasive tabloid journalism takes down another female leader, smh https://t.co/VFZDIEvcwd
— Emma Wallace (@wallacemma) January 21, 2022
This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.