WATCH out for those monkeys.
That was the advice given to me by at least a dozen people when I mentioned I was flying to Gibraltar.
A Barbary macaque showing off its sharp teeth[/caption]
The monkeys roam around Gibraltar’s nature reserve on The Rock[/caption]
They are known to be a menace to tourists[/caption]
The cheeky critters often jump on visitor’s heads[/caption]
The Sun’s Katie Davis found that out for herself[/caption]
A quick scroll on social media seemed to paint a fairly damning picture of these critters’ mischievous antics.
But I thought to myself, how bad can they really be – surely they only pounce when provoked.
So when I found myself under Gibraltar’s stunning rays of sunshine, I had to find out for myself.
The British territory is famed for its cable cars that run up The Rock to take those who so desire – and thousands do every year – to see the Barbary macaques.
As luck would have it, apparent strong winds had forced it to close and so it was the bus and good old legs for us on our mission to meet the monkeys.
These pesky primates have called Gibraltar home since long before the British occupation of 1704.
Hailing from Morocco, scientists believe they first came to the southern spot as early as the 8th century.
Local legend suggests that as long as the macaques grace Gibraltar, the territory will remain under British rule.
The traditional belief is so strong that even Winston Churchill took note during World War Two.
In 1942, the then Prime Minister gave orders to bolster the monkey population in the region after numbers dwindled to just seven.
Nowadays there is no shortage of monkeys, with between 200 and 300 living on the Upper Rock Nature Reserve.
As we made our way to an area roamed by the macaques pinpointed on the paper map, the odd scream from a tourist rang out.
But after the barrage of warnings I had been given, I was surprised at first to see how docile the creatures appeared to be.
It seemed at first to only be those making the perilous mistake of getting just a little bit too close to the monkeys that were being targeted.
One woman attempted to take a selfie with one, while another holidaymaker put their phone towards a monkey shielding its baby.
Signs are plastered throughout the reserve warning tourists against this very behaviour – with feeding or touching the critters illegal.
Mark Pizarro, the veterinary officer responsible for the care of Gibraltar’s macaque population, told me incidents of biting tend to be a result of the public illegally feeding them.
He believes it’s not the monkeys that are the problem – it’s the people who visit.
For those touring the reserve on foot there are steep, narrow steps to contend with[/caption]
Monkeys often use the steps to rest – meaning tourists must carefully walk past[/caption]
Even if you’re careful, these monkeys will pounce if they want to[/caption]
Two macaques sat on the steps, making it hard for visitors to get by[/caption]
“The monkeys are wild and free-ranging,” Mark said.
“I reckon it would be more accurate to say that the main problem we have is protecting the macaques from the tourist.
“Every year there is an increasing burden of tourism on the Nature Reserve and this impinges on the macaques social structure and often as a direct result of this we get associated problems.”
Having decided to walk the nature reserve’s hills in 28C heat, it was when we came to a narrow, steep set of steps that I thought surely this is worse than anything the monkeys have in store.
So confined are the steps that it’s single file all the way up – or down – and naturally there was a monkey or two at various points to carefully manoeuvre past.
I was slowly – and cautiously – moving past one such monkey when suddenly it leapt onto my head.
Thankfully, I’d left my Gucci sunglasses in the safety of the hotel room and had opted for a cheaper pair to shield my eyes – forewarned by past tourists that the monkeys are partial to theft.
Low and behold the ape – who was very heavy balanced on my head – reached for my glasses and promptly dropped them on the steps behind me (presumably they weren’t its style).
After seeing the funny side for a good 30 seconds, I then realised this monkey had absolutely zero desire to remove itself from my head.
My videographer Alfie offered up some advice – try walking and it might jump off.
So, monkey clinging on, I attempted the next step.
No budging.
Some of the macaques are docile – and only pounce if provoked[/caption]
The critters enjoy jumping on taxis that drive through the reserve[/caption]
Tourists are warned not provoke the monkeys or get too close[/caption]
The monkeys have lived in Gibraltar for hundreds of years[/caption]
They may look small and cute but let me tell you – these monkeys carry a fair weight to them, especially when propped on your head and neck.
“He won’t get off, I don’t know what to do,” I called out.
Alfie, likely disappointed he had to stop filming, had to come to my rescue.
Shooing it off, finally the monkey gave in and jumped off – a literal weight off my shoulders.
Admittedly, the monkey showed no vicious qualities and left me unscratched.
These primates are smart – and I reckon it wouldn’t be beyond them to find joy in teasing tourists by leaping on them.
They are also clever enough to unzip bags and take a rummage, having built up an association between them and food.
But be warned – deliberately giving the monkeys something to munch on can see you slapped with a fine, £500 outside the reserve and £250 within.
And if the offence goes to court, you could be looking at a £4,000 fine.
Another visitors falls victim to the monkeys on the steps[/caption]
Male macaques can weigh up to 15kg[/caption]
An adult monkey shields an infant primate[/caption]
The monkeys may jump on you – but they are attack if they are attempting to capture food or because they feel threantened.
Mark added: “The feeding of macaques and interaction with the macaques is illegal and there is signage all over the Nature Reserve pointing this out.
“Tour operators are also under strict instructions to instruct their clients.
“Any biting by macaques is the result of the general public illegally feeding them and in this way training these animals to expect food and indirectly to associate bags with food.
“So any bite incidents are a direct result of human interaction.
“The Barbary macaque is not an aggressive species and it is only because of this that we have few incidents.”
In one of the worst-ever attacks, a British hiker had to be rushed to hospital and given 40 stitches.
Stuart Gravenell was visiting the reserve when an alpha male charged him and sank its teeth into his forearm.
Cases like this in 2014 are extremely rare, however, and most social media videos tend to show monkeys jumping on visitors – but not biting or scratching them.
Despite the odd attack, the monkeys remain one of Gibraltar’s strongest tourist draws – though take my advice, leave your bag and sunglasses at the hotel.
Stuart Gravenell who was attacked by a monkey in Gibraltar[/caption]
The Brit dad needed 40 stitches after beign bitten[/caption]
Barbary macaques
BARBARY macaques are Europe’s final wild roaming monkeys.
Unlike their macaque relatives – 25 other species -Barbarys do not have tails.
They are mainly found in North Africa, though there is a small population in Gibraltar.
The primates live in packs, using vocalisations and facial expressions to communicate.
Males can live to around 25 years and weigh up to 15kg, while females can reach 30 years old and weigh up to 10kg.
The macaques are considered Gibraltar’s greatest tourist attraction, calling the Upper Rock Nature Reserve home.
They will often approach and climb onto tourists as they are accustomed to human interaction.
But being wild, they will still bite or scratch if frightened or annoyed.
Fines can be dished out to visitors who deliberately feed the monkeys.
