Gibraltar Monkeys - Gibraltar Barbary Macaques

The Barbary Macaque is considered Gibraltar's unofficial national animal and the Barbary Macaque has even featured on the Gibraltar pound's five pence coin since 1988.

At present there are around 250 monkeys resident on Gibraltar, living in five troops occupying the rugged area around the Upper Rock, though when hungry they will carry out raids on the town below resulting in damages to personal property.

Gibraltar's 'Monos' - Spanish for monkeys are a tailless species, also known locally as Barbary Apes or Rock Apes. In fact they are monkeys of the Genus Macaca sylvanus.

Some believe the Barbary Macaques were first introduced to Gibraltar from North Africa by the Moorish invaders, who occupied the southern Iberian peninsular including parts of Spain and Portugal between about 710 and the 1490s. One thing that is certain is that the Gibraltar macaques were not introduced by the British! There is a written record from around 1610, long before Gibraltar became British in 1704.

The Gibraltar Barbary apes are an important part of Gibraltar's tourism. So much so that the Gibraltar Macaques are considered by many to be the top tourist attraction on Gib. The most visited troop is the one ensconced at Queen's Gate at The Apes' Den, where you can get up close and personal to the monkeys.

Sometimes too personal as they have been known to 'mug' tourists, stealing handbags, back-packs, cameras etc. They often approach people and sometimes climb on you as they are so used to human presence. Don't forget thought, they are still wild animals and will bite if they feel threatened, frustrated or annoyed. You should also be aware that feeding these vagabond monkeys is a punishable offence. Anyone caught feeding these Gibraltar monkeys will incur a fine of up to £500. These photos were taken before the law came into force!

The monkeys are currently managed by the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS) with veterinarian services 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 based on available leaves, olives, roots, seeds and even flowers.

Each or the Monos has been tattooed with an ID number and recently micro-chipped. Once every year, a census is carried out. Since Barbary macaque females reproduce well, the population on Gibraltar is steadily increasing and population control is therefore an essential part of the effective management of the Gibraltar Macaques by sterilisation.