Barbary Macaques are highly intelligent animals and will have a tendency to favour easily obtainable high-calorie foods from visitors when given the option. The recent paper published in Scientific reports, which was jointly co-authored with local researchers including Technical Officers from the Department of the Environment, serves to highlight the biological impacts of illegal feeding. It further reinforces the need to curtail this activity in order to protect our Barbary Macaques.  

The Government has been working consistently to improve the management of the Rock’s Barbary macaques. This has included strict legislation regarding interference with and feeding of our unique monkeys. While the majority of operators and courts are responsible and treat the animals with respect, there is still a minority that chooses to ignore guidance and the law, and touch, tease of feed them. It is well known that this is detrimental to the monkeys, and risks the crossing over of infectious diseases in both directions.

Balancing the conservation needs of the Gibraltar Nature Reserve with visitor pressure and illegal feeding remains a challenge. As part of the renewed drive to improve the welfare of our flagship species, additional human resources will be deployed in key areas of the Gibraltar Nature Reserve to assist with macaque related duties especially anti-feeding provisions within the Upper Rock.

Gibraltar's Barbary Macaques are provisioned with food every single day of the year, by a dedicated team of very experienced macaque keepers and conservation assistants. These provisions form a critical component of their diet which supplements their natural foraging activities inside the Gibraltar Nature Reserve. Provisions include a range of fruits, vegetables and nuts which are split into two feeds; one in the early morning and another in the late afternoon. The exact composition and variety is determined by a veterinary surgeon in consultation with Barbary Macaque experts. Additionally, the macaques feed on a large range of wild plants within their habitat on the Upper Rock.

The past 15 years have seen immense improvements in the resources and facilities available to assist with the management of our Barbary Macaques, which are ultimately wild animals. Aside from the provisioning of food, a network of purpose-built freshwater ponds have been created in the Gibraltar Nature Reserve. These have proved to be extremely beneficial for our macaques.

Research into our Barbary Macaques continues apace with new and exciting projects being announced this Spring. The creation of new foraging areas, by clearing dense maquis that typically characterises the reserve albeit in carefully selected locations, is also programmed after the bird nesting season. This will also favour other species in the reserve aside from the Barbary Macaque.

In addition to a range of conservation measures, the Department of the Environment together with the Gibraltar Tourist Board will be engaging all stakeholders operating in the reserve as part of an awareness campaign to ensure that our objectives are neatly aligned for the benefit of our macaques and the Gibraltar Nature Reserve visitor experience.