Killing of monkeys rocks Gibraltar

Chicago Tribune ^ | November 23, 2003 | James Janega

[sarcasm]

Scientists say the Barbary macaque monkeys who live on the Rock of Gibraltar are a rare population vital to primate research.

But to local tourism officials they have become a nuisance--an aggressive, 30-pound nuisance with a dangerous taste for chocolate and a flair for theft.

The dispute has pitted the government of Gibraltar--which ordered 27 of the monkeys killed this summer--against researchers, who maintain the macaques would have returned to the hills if townspeople could resist offering them junk food.

< SNIP >

The government says the monkeys started it. For whatever reason, probably overcrowding on top of the Rock, a troop of them scampered down from the hills this summer and descended on the small fishing and tourist town of Catalan Bay.Once there, officials said the macaques were like college students on spring break.

Wildlife experts tried to lure them back to their home with a trail of cookies and peanuts. They tried to scare them out of town by brandishing blowguns used to anesthetize them in the past. Nothing worked for long

"They were clambering all over the hotel and all over the terraces. They sort of sit on corners. They clamber up and down drainpipes. They eat what they eat and knock over dustbins," said Brian Callaghan, managing director of the Caleta Hotel, where residents would throw open their drapes in the morning to find monkeys on their balcony.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Sounds like there are some monkeys that need spanked.

[BP2]

Hey, I've been to Gibraltar, and those monkeys are very use to tourists and can sometimes be aggressive, especially the tribe leaders. On my trip, a group of us had a tour leader, and he used food to lure monkey on our shoulders for a picture. Well, by the time it was MY turn for the picture, the tour leader had run out of food and tried to lure the monkey on my shoulder with a closed fist to try to fool the monkey. This monkey was the leader and weighed about 35 pounds. The monkey jumped on my shoulder, got mad that there was no food and slapped me on the head as he jumped off!

Another of the guys in my party got his arm scratched. Glad he didn't get monkey scratch fever.

[Bon mots]

Could have monkey paintball matches... monkeys hate paintball.



If they get used to it, then just start putting the paintballs in the freezer before you go monkey hunting... they'll scamper right back up the hill.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Pepper spray paintballs... if they're good enough for anti-globalists, they're good enough for monkeys.

[sgtbono2002]

Exterminate them till the population is down to where it is manageble. Thats the only answer.

[syriacus]

The dispute has pitted the government of Gibraltar--which ordered 27 of the monkeys killed this summer--against researchers, who maintain the macaques would have returned to the hills if townspeople could resist offering them junk food.

Survival of the fittest.

The "fittest" macaques will be the ones that are smart enough to return to the hills.

[Thebaddog]

You have got to love the Chicago Tribune for covering the globe looking for stories that only the idle rich or vacous intillectuals could possibly care about.

[Brett66]

Beat me to it.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.

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[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[Joe 6-pack]

Do German cannibals eat monkeys?

[Az Joe]

"The monkeys started it." LOL

"Everything for the very important monkey!"--Kramer

[Tijeras_Slim]

W.W.K.D?

What would Koko Do?