36°07′56″N5°20′56″W / 36.132248°N 5.348875°W /36.132248; -5.348875 (Apes' Den)
Originally from theAtlas Mountains and theRif Mountains ofMorocco, theBarbary macaque population inGibraltar is the only wild monkey population on the European continent. Although most Barbary monkey populations in Africa are experiencing decline due to hunting anddeforestation, the Gibraltar population is increasing. As of 2020[update], some 300 animals in five troops occupy the Upper Rock area of theGibraltar Nature Reserve, though they make occasional forays into the town.[1] As they are a tailless species, they are also known locally as Barbaryapes or rock apes, despite being classified as monkeys (Macaca sylvanus). Spanish speakers simply refer to them asmonos (English:monkeys) when conversing in Spanish.
The name Barbary refers to theBerber People of North Africa who, since the beginning of history, had ties with the animals surrounding their region, such as the Barbary macaques. The macaque population had also been present on theRock of Gibraltar long before Gibraltar was captured by the British in 1704 and according to records, since prior to reconquest of Gibraltar from the Muslims. It was during the Islamic period where a purported introduction may have taken place.[2] In his workHistoria de la Muy Noble y Más Leal Ciudad de Gibraltar (History of the Very Noble and Most Loyal City of Gibraltar), written between 1605 and 1610,Alonso Hernández del Portillo, the firstchronicler of Gibraltar, wrote:
"But now let us speak of other and living producers which in spite of the asperity of the rock still maintain themselves in the mountain, there are monkeys, who may be called the true owners, with possession from time immemorial, always tenacious of the dominion, living for the most part on the eastern side in high and inaccessible chasms."
In hisHistory of Gibraltar (1782),Ignacio López de Ayala, a Spanish historian like Portillo, wrote of the monkeys:
"Neither the incursions of Moor, the Spaniards nor the English, nor cannon nor bomb of either have been able to dislodge them."[3][4][5]
Repeated introduction of animals and the lack of reliable data concerning founders of the Gibraltar macaque population has obscured their origin. The fact that all extant Gibraltarian mtDNA haplotypes were also found in North Africa, combined with the lack of fossil evidence ofM. sylvanus in Gibraltar at the end of the last glaciation, greatly diminishes the possibility that the Gibraltar macaques represent or include any remnant of the original European population, a possibility which can nevertheless not be excluded.[6] Indeed, it had been earlier suggested that the original Gibraltar macaques were a remnant of populations that had spread throughout Southern Europe[7] during thePliocene, up to 5.5 million years ago.[8] TheMacaca sylvanus species is listed as endangered by theIUCN Red List and is declining. About 75% of the total population is found in the Middle Atlas Mountains.
During thePleistocene, this species inhabited a greater area around the Mediterranean coasts and Europe. Duringwarm interglacials it reached as far north as Germany and Britain, while retreating to southernglacial refugia duringcold periods.[9] During theLast Glacial Period, the species decreased to extinction in theIberian Peninsula 30,000 years ago.[citation needed] The species' disappearance from Europe in the latest Pleistocene, as opposed to its survival during earlier glacial periods, is not fully understood, but is assumed to be due to climatic deterioration and associated vegetation change, perhaps in combination with human pressure. Generally, it coincided with the extinction of other primarily large mammals, such as theEuropean hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) andnarrow-nosed rhinoceros (Stephanorhinus hemitoechus).[9]
The Gibraltar Barbary macaques are considered by many to be the toptourist attraction in Gibraltar. The most popular troop is that ofQueen's Gate at the Ape's Den, where people can get especially close to the monkeys. 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.[10]
The 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 to forage in the town, resulting in damage to buildings, clothing, and vehicles.[1] Close contact with humans has also led to the macaques learning how to open pockets and unzip handbags and rucksacks in order to steal food from humans.[1] For these reasons, deliberately feeding the macaques in Gibraltar is now an offence punishable bylaw. Anyone caught feeding the monkeys is liable to befined up to £4,000.[11]
Gibraltar's Barbary macaque population was under the care of theBritish Army and later theGibraltar Regiment from 1915 to 1991, who carefully controlled a population that initially consisted of a single troop. The 'Keeper of the Apes' would keep the official records, maintaining an up-to-date register for each monkey, listing their births and names and supervising their diet, which they drew officially every week. The food allowance of fruit, vegetables and nuts was included in the budget, set by the War Office at £4 a month in 1944.[12] They would humorously announce births in the 'Gibraltar Chronicle': "Rock Apes. Births: To Phyllis, wife of Tony, at the Upper Rock, on 30th June 1942— a child. Both doing well." much to the delight of readers.[13] They were named aftergovernors,brigadiers and high-ranking officers. Any ill or injured monkey needing surgery or any other form of medical attention was taken to Royal Naval Hospital Gibraltar and received the same treatment as would an enlisted service man. When UK-based infantry units were withdrawn and garrison duty was left to the Gibraltar Regiment, theGovernment of Gibraltar took over responsibility for the monkeys.[14]
On 11 May 1954, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the monkey packs while on a visit to Gibraltar. A photograph captured the Queen feeding a Barbary ape while the Duke of Edinburgh stood next to battle-dressed ape-keeper Gunner Wilfred Portlock.[17][22]
The monkeys are currently managed by theGibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS), and veterinarian expertise is provided by the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic. The macaques receive a daily supply of fresh water and vegetables, fruit and seeds as supplement to natural food resources (leaves, olives, roots, seeds and flowers). The animals are caught on a regular basis to check their health status. Additionally, body size, weight and several other measurements are taken. Finally, the animals are given a tattoo number and amicrochip as a means of identification. But tattoos are not the only way to recognise individual macaques; many of them have particular marks, scars or spots which can be used as distinguishing features. All monkeys are photographed and the pictures and individual characteristics are catalogued. Cataloguing work is carried out by the GONHS. The GONHS also does collaborative studies with the Scientific Institute of Rabat-Agdal University (Morocco), theUniversity of Notre Dame (Indiana, United States), theUniversity of Vienna (Austria), theGerman Primate Centre (Germany) and theUniversity of Zurich (Switzerland).
Once every year, a census is conducted to provide data and to monitor reproductive success of the whole population.These demographic data are important for the management of the population generally, andfertility regulation in selected individuals, specifically. Since Barbary macaque females reproduce well, the population on Gibraltar is steadily increasing, which in turn puts pressure on the limitedhabitat.Animal population control is therefore an essential part of the effective management of the population.[23] In 2008 a small group of macaques that had permanently relocated to theCatalan Bay area were culled. In 2012 theGovernment Minister for Health and the EnvironmentJohn Cortes stated that the Government was investigating the possibility of reintroducing over a hundred macaques to their natural habitat in North Africa.[24]
In October 2014, the Government of Gibraltar announced that it would export 30 of the monkeys to asafari park in Scotland. This caused a journalist spin that they were sent to Scotland for being especially "disruptive".[25] By 2017, the monkeys at theBlair Drummond Safari Park nearStirling were doing well and the first births were being registered.[26]
A popular belief holds that as long as Gibraltar Barbary macaques exist on Gibraltar, theterritory willremain under British rule.[27] In 1942 (during World War II), after the population dwindled to just seven monkeys,UK Prime MinisterWinston Churchill ordered their numbers be replenished immediately from forest fragments in both Morocco andAlgeria because of this traditional belief.[8]
In another story, the Gibraltar Barbary macaques enteredthe Rock via a subterranean passage betweenLower St. Michael's Cave and Morocco.[28]
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Media related toMacaca sylvanus in Gibraltar at Wikimedia Commons Media related toMacaca sylvanus at Wikimedia Commons
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