New boss monkey takes helm at Oita zoo

New boss monkey takes helm at Oita zoo

OITA, Japan - A monkey mascot (R) at the Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden in Oita, southwestern Japan, accepts a warrant of appointment from Oita Mayor Ban Kugimiya on Feb. 2, 2014, at a ceremony marking the promotion of the garden's No. 2 leader monkey "Zorome" as new boss monkey. Zorome's predecessor "Bentsu" was declared dead in mid-January after going missing the month before.

New boss monkey takes helm at Oita zoo

New boss monkey takes helm at Oita zoo

OITA, Japan - Male monkey "Zorome" becomes the new boss monkey at the Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden in Oita, southwestern Japan, on Feb. 2, 2014. His predecessor "Bentsu" was declared dead in mid-January after going missing the month before.

Flowers offered to boss monkey in Oita

Flowers offered to boss monkey in Oita

OITA, Japan - A table is set up at the Takasakiyama Natural Zoological Garden in Oita on Jan. 26, 2014, for visitors who wish to offer flowers to the garden's boss monkey ''Bentsu'' who died in mid-January after escaping.

Young breeder of rhinos

Young breeder of rhinos

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Photo taken Oct. 11, 2013 shows a female Indian rhinoceros named Gopon at the Kanazawa Zoo, run by the Yokohama municipal government. Gopon is pregnant and due to give birth in mid-January 2014.

French bestseller author delivers speech in London

French bestseller author delivers speech in London

French economist Thomas Piketty, author of the bestselling "Capital in the Twenty-First Century," delivers a speech in London as seen in this file photo taken in June 2014. The Japanese version of the book sold about 130,000 copies in a month through mid-January, becoming a rare hit for a book with difficult content. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo