Gibraltar to cull Barbary apes that terrorise tourists

by Amy Judd | April 16, 2008 at 12:01 pm

4357 views | 12 Recommendations | 44 comments

I visited Gibraltar when I was about 7. The only thing I remember from the visit is the apes. Gibraltar is famous for their apes. There is a theory that if the apes were to ever leave Gibraltar, then the territory would cease to be British. Well, now some of them are being forced to make an early exit.
The apes have been terrorising tourists staying in the colony, and as a result, are facing a cull.

A pack of 25 of the Barbary macaques have “run riot” on a beach, have broken into hotel rooms and have been caught scavenging in bins in the town centre.

Vets will track down the tearaways and kill them by lethal injection.

The threat of attacks on humans and the possibility of the spread of disease has forced authorities to approve the cull “as a last resort”.

Ernest Britto, Gibraltar’s tourist minister, defended the plans for the cull, saying: “Children are frightened. People cannot leave their windows open for fear of the monkeys stealing. “Apes can bite, and contact with them runs the risk of salmonella or hepatitis.”

Vets are to track down the tearaways and put them down by lethal injection. Two have already been killed.

The Gibraltar population of the Barbary macaque – a monkey commonly referred to as the Barbary ape because of its stubby tail – numbers more than 200.

They attract hundreds of tourists every day to the areas around Apes Den and the Siege Tunnels at the top of the Rock.
Francis Cantos, the spokesman for the Government of Gibraltar, insisted: “This is being done as a last resort.

“The apes we are targeting are part of a breakaway group that are going into town and making a nuisance as well as posing health hazards.

“They’ve been spotted going through rubbish, vandalising property and stealing from people. They ran riot at the beach at Catalan Bay.”

British soldiers are thought to have first brought apes to Gibraltar in the mid-18th century to be used as target practice.
However, Winston Churchill was so concerned about keeping enough apes there that he had more shipped over from north Africa during the Second World War.

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Rachel Nixon

at 12:34 on April 16th, 2008

I've come across the macaques and it's true that they look cuter than they really are. But this seems a bit of a drastic measure. Part of the problem is that they have become too familiar with humans because of the constant presence of tourists, some of whom feed them. Also it's just a short trip down the Rock to the town where tasty morsels await in the bins.

Jordan Yerman

at 12:53 on April 16th, 2008

Also, Gibraltar's small size makes macaque/human encounters inevitable.

nickcheeseman

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 14:29 on April 16th, 2008

amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Gerald Davison

at 15:19 on April 16th, 2008

Some pictures from our recent visit to the "rock". I wouldn't say we were "terrorised", but we unthinkingly took a plastic bag with us to the summit in the cable car and we certainly had to be pretty careful not to get attacked. As soon as we got off we were surrounded - they associate plastic bags with food. We had to dispose of the bag. While we had it with us we had to walk around watching very carefully that we didn't give one of them a chance to grab the bag. They are perfectly happy leaping onto you to to grab things from your hands. While we were up there I saw two different people get "jumped" and lose bags with food in them. No injuries caused, but they certainly had a fright. I don't blame the apes, it's our fault they associate plastic bags with free food.

Gerald Davison has contributed a photo to this story.

Amy Judd

at 15:24 on April 16th, 2008

Scary though to have an ape jump on your head! I remember one tried to grab my leg and I ran away screaming! I'm a wimp though...

Ken Horn

at 17:54 on April 16th, 2008

Glad to contribute my photos. No terrorizing going on when we were there. One did put his hand in my pocket, searching for a treat. I don't see killing them. Aggressive apes could be tranquilized and relocated, though it would probably need to be to zoos.

torchill

at 18:02 on April 16th, 2008

Apes were watching the buses going by looking for bags, these apes were fairly calm just looking at the lookers.

torchill has contributed a photo to this story.

HenryLawrence

at 19:02 on April 16th, 2008

The Apes are everywhere, and they are very tame. This photo was taken near the top of Gibraltar.

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Bettytron

at 19:08 on April 16th, 2008

This was moments before the ape turned and grabbed my wrist- I didn't realize they'd be so forward. No horror stories, though- they seemed mostly as though they just wanted to be left alone. I can see overpopulation being a problem, though.

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JimJimUK

at 19:12 on April 16th, 2008

They were fine when I was there. This photo was taken on the walk along the rock from the cable-car station.

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nochechloe

at 19:43 on April 16th, 2008

The people of Gibraltar are very, very proud of the apes and it is a serious matter if they are harmed. They are considered a national treasure. Because of the limited space, the numbers are kept at a constant (babies are born and oldsters are retired and relocated) but the constant contact with tourists appears to be affecting the apes' behavior. I hope the officials can regulate the behavior of the tourists, as well as the apes, and that some of the apes can be relocated, rather than be put down.

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pjwar

at 21:19 on April 16th, 2008

I was here in 1977 can only remember taking the photo a long time ago

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blainemoss2000

at 21:31 on April 16th, 2008

this photo was taken a few years ago on gibraltar. the apes were very entertaining and full of personality! although a few were aggresive, it is their territory we tourists are invading and should respect them and their surroundings. it was an amazing experience and i was lucky enough to snap a few close-up photos. -blaine moss

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opusman

at 21:41 on April 16th, 2008

We visited Gibraltar in 2005 and of course went to the top of "the rock". The apes were quite entertaining but also a bit aggressive - we made the mistake at one point of taking some food out of a bag and almost instantly an ape was "stalking" us - and even jumped on my partner's back in an attempt to grab it! Luckily she wasn't bitten or scratched but she was very shaken up by the experience.

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Disco Dave

at 21:52 on April 16th, 2008

These ones in Edinburgh Zoo will be safe

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hvrlon

at 22:50 on April 16th, 2008

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hvrlon

at 23:20 on April 16th, 2008

I took this photo one morning last June, going by cable car to the top of the Rock at an hour when tourists were few in number and the apes still seemed a little sleepy. A friend who lives in Gibraltar warned me not to reach into my bag in case the apes approached us and admitted that she is reluctant to take her two small children up there. I saw an ape running off with someone's sandwiches closer to lunchtime, appropriately enough.

mary darko

at 23:29 on April 16th, 2008

I stayed one year in Gibraltar and my most loving memory apart from the wonderfull people there was the apes!They sometimes grab people's bags or want to pull their hair if you go too close but apart from that i myself haven't witnessed any apes being too violent.Nevertheless i could understand them being out of control but it makes me very sad the fact to put them to sleep.They are very beautifull and along with the landscape of the Rock it offers a wonderfull tourist attraction and a great part of Gibraltarian history.I hope this wont happen again

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Owlet2007

at 00:12 on April 17th, 2008

My husband and I visited Gibraltar in 1999 and went up the Rock by taxi. Our driver told us not to approach the apes ourselves, but be guided by him. He seemed to have some raport with them. We took all of his advice and had a very enjoyable time there, no scary moments at all. Remember these are wild animals and we should respect them. I would prefer it if any offending apes were tranquilised and relocated rather than culled. Tourists should be sensible, read any guidance information and always heed all the warning signs.

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Bryn Hughes

at 00:19 on April 17th, 2008

They may be a little destructive but they are very obliging when asked to pose for photos !!

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blackcatgirl

at 00:38 on April 17th, 2008

A gibraltar ape inside a taxicab having a good rummage around!

bl4ckc4t2005 has contributed a photo to this story.

Darkmuse

at 00:48 on April 17th, 2008

When I was there they simply looked like they wanted to be left alone, unless idiot tourists did have food on them despite being warned not to! Apart, of course, for the inquisitive juvanile apes. But they're the cute ones; its the alpha males or protective mothers you might have problems with.

The Travel Slut

at 01:56 on April 17th, 2008

The Gibraltar "Apes" are deceptively quick and cunning and have a penchant for anything in a person's hands or on their face or heads.

During my visit, I saw a young girl lose a pair of expensive sunglasses from atop her head even after she had been warned not to exit the bus with them worn like that. She panicked when one jumped from the roof of the bus onto her back and shoulders and fortunately she did not stumble and fall.

I may reserve judgement, however, as to what should be done about either: 1) the apes or 2) the tourists.

Eiiza

at 02:27 on April 17th, 2008

Good story amyjudd. We did come across an aggressive male Barbary Ape who whilst emptying the contents of our plastic bag of clothes and presents over the cliff - item by item- spat and snarled at my husband, but we were cross with ourselves for providing temptation, not with the ape for seizing the opportunity.
To introduce these wild monkeys to the area, make them dependent upon humans, encourage them to breed, use them as a money making tourist attraction and then impose the death sentence on the few who display their natural wild nature, because what we actually want is an exotic submissive pet, highlights our inhumanity perfectly.

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Scutmunkey

at 02:51 on April 17th, 2008

These Ape are wonderful. Cheeky but fantastic. It's their home as much as anyones. I think a cull is a very negative reaction. I think they should be rehomed if they are a true danger - but really I'd say they are just a nuisance.

DONT CULL THEM - REHOME THEM

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chou_kathy

at 04:38 on April 17th, 2008

These apes are not shy at all.

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anthias2001

at 04:54 on April 17th, 2008

I live near Gibraltar. I know the apes since my childhood. They are mischievous but they never made any damage.
I don't understand this law of Gibraltar's Goverment.
Regards!

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david_nisbet

at 05:32 on April 17th, 2008

taken in nov 07 on "the rock"...these little guys can be a bit of a nuisance if you are not careful...note to self...don't bring food in bags! While we were there at least one child carrying some potato chips was "wounded".

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babsalita

at 06:08 on April 17th, 2008

Gibrlatar was wonderful and although the apes really terrorised some tourists they did no harm to me. They were actually quite cute and the most dangerous crime they comitted was to steal your lunch :)

I had a great time on "the Rock"!

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