The juhyo of the Zao Mountains require very special weather conditions to form, and climate change is beginning to have an effect on them. Scientists and hikers have been keeping records of where and when the juhyo used to be. They then compared these records to thepresent situation. They discovered that the “habitat” suitable for the juhyo is getting smaller every year. The time period to see them is also getting shorter, too.
In Japan, the average temperature is now 1.3 degrees higher than it was in the early 20th century. If the warming trend continues, the average temperature will be more than four degrees higher by the beginning of the next century. This will spell trouble for the snow monsters. Though they are only endangerednow, it is possible that they will soon become extinct.
