Barbary macaques in Gibraltar

This young Gibraltar Barbary Macaque is part of a group of 25 to 70 individuals from several different monkey families.

The Barbary Macaque population in Gibraltar is the only one in the whole of the European continent, and, unlike that of North Africa, it is thriving. At present there are some 300 animals in five troupes occupying the area of the Upper Rock, though occasional forays into the town may result in damage to personal property. Moreover, three Barbary Macaque females can be seen on the Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park in Gibraltar. As they are a tailless species, they are also known locally as Barbary Apes or Rock Apes, despite the fact that they are monkeys (Macaca sylvanus). The local people simply refer to them as monos (meaning monkeys) when conversing in Spanish or Llanito (the local vernacular).

The Gibraltar Barbary Macaque is considered Gibraltar's unofficial national animal.

Origin

All Gibraltar Barbary Macaques are descended from North African populations of Barbary Macaques. DNA evidence has established beyond doubt that the present population of Gibraltar macaques is of relatively recent Algerian and Moroccan origin. No traces were found of a third source for their DNA, namely of any ancient, no longer surviving Iberian population. An earlier theory, now dis-proven by the DNA evidence, was 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. The Macaca sylvanus species, is listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List and is declining. In the Middle Atlas mountains, are three quarters of the world population.

During the Pleistocene this species inhabited the Mediterranean coasts, and Europe reaching as far north as Germany and the British Isles. The species decreased with the arrival of the Ice Age, to extinction in the Iberian Peninsula 30,000 years ago. The skull of a Barbary Macaque was discovered during excavation in the 1970s at the pre-Christian Navan Fort in County Armagh, Ireland. Carbon dating tests suggest it died there in the 3rd century BC. Navan Fort is known to have had Royal connections and was frequently visited by the High Kings of Ireland — legendary Heremon married a middle-eastern princess, Tea Tephi, in 583 BC after her extended voyage from Palestine. During this voyage she is known to have spent several months in Gibraltar.

In any case, their presence is documented on the Rock before it was captured by the British in 1704. The original introduction of the macaques was most likely orchestrated by the Moors (who occupied southern Iberia, including Spain and Portugal, between 711 and 1492) using them as pets.

The macaque population had been present on the Rock of Gibraltar long before Gibraltar came under English sovereignty in the 18th century. In his work Historia de la Muy Noble y Más Leal Ciudad de Gibraltar (English: History of the Very Noble and Most Loyal City of Gibraltar), written between 1605 and 1610, Alonso Hernández del Portillo, the first chronicler 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 his History 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."

Tourism

Although the Gibraltar Barbary Macaques form part of tourism in Gibraltar, direct contact with them (as shown in this photograph) is strongly discouraged.

The Gibraltar 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, 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.

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 damages to buildings, clothing, and vehicles. For this reason, feeding the macaques in Gibraltar is now an offence punishable by law. Anyone caught feeding the monkeys is liable to be fined up to £500.

Military care

Sgt. Alfred Holmes alongside two Gibraltar Barbary Macaques, looking down on the city of Gibraltar.

The Gibraltar macaque 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. They were named after governors, brigadiers and high ranking officers. Any ill or injured monkey was taken to Royal Naval Hospital and received the same treatment as would an enlisted service man. Following the withdrawal of the British garrison, the Government of Gibraltar took over responsibility for the monkeys.

Officers in charge

• Sgt. Alfred Holmes of the Gibraltar Regiment (c.1958 – c.1986)
• Ernest Asquez of the Gibraltar Regiment (c.1986 – unknown)
• Zammut of the Gibraltar Regiment

Management

The macaques receive a daily supply of fresh fruit and vegetables including, oranges, apples, potatoes, onions, carrots and cabbage to supplement their natural food resources.

The most popular troop of macaques is based at the Ape's Den area in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve.

The monkeys are currently managed by the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS) and veterinarian expertise is provided by the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic (GVC). 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 in order to check their health status. Additionally, body size, weight and several other measurements are taken. Finally, the animals are given a tattoo number and a microchip 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 together with 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), University of Notre Dame (Indiana, USA), the University of Vienna (Austria), the German Primate Centre (Germany) and the University of Zurich (Switzerland).

Once every year, a census is conducted in order to provide data and to monitor reproductive success of the whole population. These demographic data are important for the management of the population generally, but also when it comes to the point of fertility regulation in selected individuals. Since Barbary macaque females reproduce well, the population on Gibraltar is steadily increasing, which in turn puts pressure on the limited habitat. Animal population control is therefore an essential part of the effective management of the Gibraltar monkey population.

Legend

A popular belief holds that as long as Gibraltar 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 (just seven monkeys), British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill ordered that their numbers be replenished immediately from forest fragments in both Morocco and Algeria because of this traditional belief.

A story tells that Gibraltar is linked to Africa by a subterranean passage over 15 miles (24 km) long which begins at Lower St. Michael's Cave and passes under the Strait of Gibraltar. Legend has it that the Gibraltar Barbary Macaques entered The Rock from Morocco this way.

In popular culture

• The Gibraltar Barbary Macaque has featured on the Gibraltar pound's five pence coin since 1988 and on the tercentenary edition one penny coin since 2004.
• They are also featured in the 2007 Stieg Larsson novel The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest.

See also

• List of mammals in Gibraltar
• Ravens of the Tower of London

External links

• Frances D. Burton: The Integration of Biology and Behavior in the Socialization of Macaca sylvana of Gibraltar