Gibraltar Barbary Macaques
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The Barbary Macaque population in Gibraltar is the last in the whole of the European continent, which unlike that of North Africa is thriving. At present there are some 300 animals in five troops occupying the area of the Upper Rock, though occasional forays into the town result in monkey mayhem. Because they are a tailless species, they are also known locally as Barbary Apes or Rock Apes despite the fact that they are monkeys.
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[edit] Origin
Some scientists believe the Barbary Macaques were first brought to Gibraltar by the Moors, who occupied southern Iberia (including Spain and Portugal) between 711 and 1492. On the other hand, it's possible that the original Gibraltar macaques were a remnant of populations that had spread throughout Southern Europe during the Pliocene, up to 5.5 million years ago.[1]
[edit] Tourism
The Barbary Macaques are considered by many to be the top tourist attraction in Gibraltar. The most popular troop is that of Queen's Gate at The Apes' Den. People can get especially close to the monkeys at this site. They will often approach and sometimes climb onto people as they are used to human interaction. Nevertheless, they are still wild animals and will bite if frightened or annoyed.[2]
The Barbary Macaques' contact with large numbers of tourists was causing the integrity of their social groups to break down, as they began to become dependent on humans. This induced the monkeys' urge to foray into the town, resulting in damages to personal property such as buildings, clothing and vehicles. For this reason, feeding the macaques in Gibraltar is now an offense punishable by law. Anyone caught feeding the monkeys will incur a penalty of up to a maximum fine of £500.[3]
[edit] Military care
The Gibraltar population was under the care of the British Army and later the Gibraltar Regiment from 1915 to 1991, who carefully controlled a population that initially consisted of a single troop. An officer was appointed to supervise their welfare, and a food allowance of fruit, vegetables and nuts was included in the budget. Births were gazetted in true military fashion, and each new arrival was named. Following the withdrawal of the British garrison, the Government of Gibraltar took over responsibility for the monkeys.
[edit] Officers in charge
- Sgt. Alfred Holmes of the Gibraltar Regiment (c.1958 - c.1986)
- Ernest Asquez of the Gibraltar Regiment (c.1987 - )
[edit] Myth
A popular belief holds that as long as Barbary Macaques exist on Gibraltar, the territory will remain under British rule. In 1942 (during World War II), after the population dwindled to just a handful of individuals, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered that their numbers be replenished immediately from forest fragments in both Morocco and Algeria due to this traditional belief.[1]
A story tells that Gibraltar is linked to Africa by a subterranean passage over 15 miles (24 km) which begins at Lower St. Michael's Cave long under the Strait of Gibraltar. Legend has it that the Barbary Macaques entered The Rock from Morocco this way.
