GONHS state their position on Barbary Macaques culling controversy
The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS ), who, together with the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic, is responsible to Government for different aspects of the management of the Barbary Macaques, have issued a statement today describing their position regarding the controversy over the Gibraltar Government’s recent decision to cull 25 of Gibraltar’s world famous Rock Apes.
In their statement this morning which follows a worldwide uproar and condemnation of the Government’s decision by world experts, the GONHS have outlined their views as follows:
- • The current management regime of the macaques is the best ever, especially in relation to feeding, health, technical know-how and data collection by the management team.
- • The setting up of splinter groups by the macaques, and roaming over large areas, are natural processes, and reflect the current good state of health and well-being of the monkeys.
- • Urbanisation of splinter groups and nuisance to people is mainly the result of the monkeys being conditioned to behave in this way by people who feed them illegally, and of the availability of waste food in both public and private bin stores.
- • Removal of surplus animals, including culling of selected animals, is a necessary management tool as long as it is done humanely and after careful study and consideration.
- • GONHS is not in favour of large culls, but the removal of entire splinter groups will be necessary on occasion.
- • This will preferably be by exportation, where suitable destinations are available. None have been identified recently despite continuing efforts to do so.
The Government’s decision to cull the Macaques has brought a considerable amount of attention from world media on Gibraltar. It is also causing great concern with the public at large, both in Gibratlar and worldwide. An online petition aimed at the Governmnent to revoke it’s decision and Stop the culling of Macaques in Gibraltar, has so far attracted over 800 signatures since it was started a week ago.
However, the GONHS statement urges the people of Gibraltar to “have more patience with the monkeys and to appreciate the complexity of the situation as it is being tackled”. As they have done on numerous ocassions in the past, GONHS are once again highlighting the need to implement the Upper Rock Management Plan with suggestions on the creation of incentives to restaurants and hotels to make rubbish storage monkey-proof.
GONHS also call on the Gibraltar Government to continue and speed up their programme, doing this with public bin stores.
Above all GONHS are asking that law enforcement agencies strictly apply the laws forbidding the feeding of monkeys by the public, anywhere in Gibraltar, including the Upper Rock.
In their statement, GONHS say that they are in regular contact with the Government of Gibraltar’s Department of the Environment and with the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic on relevant aspects of the management of the macaques. They reiterate that their policy is one of “working together with the Department of the Environment in order to ensure the best management practices are carried out, in both the short and long term”, adding:
“In this respect, and depending on the issue, GONHS may either agree or disagree with the Department, as is the natural and proper situation in an open and professional relationship between two independent entities working together.”
Referring directly to the present culling decision controversy, GONHS say:
“GONHS is not in favour of culling. It recognises that the putting down, under licence, of selected animals is necessary as a part of management where a situation is not totally natural. There will be reasons of health, social status or behaviour that may make this necessary. In this way, the processes of natural mortality are assumed by the managers of the population.
The culling of groups of animals is a separate issue. Most of the problems caused to humans and their dwellings arise as a result of splinter groups from the established packs chancing on sources of rich, concentrated food. The roaming that causes these groups to wander away from the Upper Rock are natural, and occur in the wild in north Africa over far greater distances. They are NOT the result of under-feeding.”
The GONHS statement goes on to explain its practices and and answers some suggestions that have been made, regarding possible alternative solutions such as the exportation of the macaques that are causing problems in residential areas and also explains the complexities with the programme of contraception that they are implementing.
GONHS highlight one very important point, which they say many refuse to recognise. GONHS believe that “the monkeys are being trained by members of the public to become aggressive and accost people in built-up areas”. Explaining their concerns in detail, GONHS conclud that “Gibraltar is training monkeys to become pests”!
“The monkeys, a mere 206 in number, are visited by about three quarters of a million visitors who enter the Upper Rock every year.
Many of these visitors are encouraged to touch or otherwise interact with the monkeys in ways that the monkeys can consider to be threats.
In addition, the monkeys are taught by a minority of operators to expect food from people, often from plastic bags, or even pockets. Sometimes these food items are unhealthy in themselves, but the monkeys quickly learn anyway to expect food from people and plastic bags. They are also taught to do tricks – and lose their fear of or respect for humans.
When a splinter group encounters a built-up area, the monkeys will be pre-conditioned to expect food and will not hesitate in approaching shoppers, or children on their way to school, expecting the same food items.
If they are taught to enter car windows in return for food, why would they not expect to get the same when they enter someone’s kitchen window?
So Gibraltar is training monkeys to become pests.”
GONHS also focus on the lack of enforcement of existing laws forbidding feeding, despite the problems that are clearly being caused by them in residential areas, largely due to the way the Macaques are being treated, adding:
“There have never been any prosecutions, despite photographic evidence having been made available by GONHS to the authorities.”
GONHS say they would welcome improvements to the monkey sites on the Upper Rock, which are overdue. However, this they say, “would be largely cosmetic and would not have a significant effect on the problem described here”.
“It would be much more important to ensure that illegal feeding stops. Any wardening or other presence at the ape sites would be aimed primarily at stopping these practices. Some years ago GONHS volunteers undertook these tasks, but withdrew, after threats and physical abuse were received.”
The GONHS statement today concludes by reiterating that the Barbary macaques are an important asset to Gibraltar and emphasise that their care “is not neglected”.
“They are also a part of our ecology to be treasured and a healthy population of a species that is endangered elsewhere.
Their care is not neglected but would benefit from public understanding of the complexities involved, a little more patience, and the stopping, immediately, of the illegal feeding of monkeys on the Upper Rock and their treatment by some almost as if they were pets or circus animals.”
GONHS say that the attention of the international media, and of international organisations, should best be aimed in those directions, and in assisting them in their endeavours to find destinations for surplus groups, and they conclude:
“Despite, or even because of all of the above, in future years culls should not even be contemplated until all their potential feeding sites such as bin stores are made monkey-proof, and there is full and proper enforcement of the law forbidding the feeding of monkeys, in the Upper Rock and elsewhere.”
Source: GONHS > Press Releases > The Management of the Gibraltar Barbary Macaques - 21 April 2008
Related Articles and Links:
Tell us what you think - Comment and/or Vote on this news report in our Forum - Are you in favour of culling our Barbary Macaques?
Sign the Petition: GoPetitions > Stop the culling of Macaques in Gibraltar
Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS )
International Primate Protection League - UK
BBC - Science & Nature - Wildfacts - Barbary ape, Barbary macaque
Gibraltar Barbary Macaques - Information from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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23 August 2006 - Apes: Attraction or public nuisance?
19 August 2006 - RGP warn public of penalties for feeding Rock Apes
27 March 2006 - GONHS comment on Ape Injuries statistics
24 February 2006 - Ape bite warning in UK newspaper
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